"Those heavenly blessings which devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus pours into the souls of the faithful, purifying them, refreshing them with heavenly consolation and urging them to acquire all virtues, are too numerous to be counted..."- Saint Margaret Mary - Leon Cristiani
Dear Esther,
I have had so many people contact me with comments that they are joining your Novena that it has been overwhelming and I thank you. At Mass on Sunday night, I told Pornchai and our convert friend Donald about the Novena and they were both very grateful to you. So am I. It was a wonderful gesture, and I think it worked! Bill Donohue's comments on EWTN were evidence of its power, and yesterday there was a minor miracle. I was interviewed for 2 1/2 hrs. by an independent filmmaker doing a documentary on falsely accused priests. To my great shock, and his, the prison officials allowed him to bring in a camera crew. It was unheard of here, but it went very well. Charlene helped to orchestrate it, and she too had joined your Novena. She nagged me to grow some hair for the filming, but that was just impossible. I lost all my hair in prison, and now I look like Kojak.
With thanks and blessings,
Fr. Gordon
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Sent on behalf of
These Stone Walls
Dear Friends,
On the 8th of September we celebrate the birthday of our Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary, Queen of heaven and earth. It was because of her "Yes" that Jesus came into the world, 'the Word made flesh Who dwelt among us'.
In preparation for this great day, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary let us thank our Blessed Mother for the gift of Jesus to each one of us. Let us also thank her for keeping her Mantle of Blue around us always, as she leads us to her Son our Saviour. Most importantly, let us imitate her every virtue as she is the perfect model to follow, conceived without stain of sin.
Attached is the Novena to Maria Bambina (the Infant Virgin Mary) which begins on the 30th of August. Please make it a point to pray this novena with your families as you place them under the Mantle of our Blessed Mother.
O Mary conceived without original sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!!!
God bless U,
Elaine
"...Often it is much more difficult to recognize the cross Jesus intends for us personally than to accept it once we have recognized it. We are inclined to think...that our crosses would not be so painful if we could immediately see them. There lies the rub which usually disturbs those who have opted for a life of detachment. Their temptation consists in imaging that they already know beforehand what their cross or time of testing will be. Unfortunately, a cross one knows in advance, even if it is fairly heavy, is no longer the cross of Jesus. Our real cross is always to some degree unanticipated and always seems to far surpass our strength. As a rule, we would never have chosen it. Passionately to cling to a cross of our own choosing and perhaps unconsciously but equally passionately to reject the cross that Jesus intends for us is perhaps the heaviest and most discouraging cross. I t could keep us forever from taking up our real cross if Jesus did not at some time intervene.
For what is our cross other than Jesus himself? To accept this cross is to accept him. It is simultaneously 'to take u our cross' and to follow him. Undoubtedly, if we could know God's gift, if we could see and recognize it, we would not have an easier time of it.
The Savior raised His voice and said with incomparable majesty: Know that grace follows the tribulation. Know that without the weight of afflictions we do not reach the height of grace. Understand that conforming to the works, together we increase the measures of the charisma. Let know one fool themselves: this is the only true stairway to paradise, outside of the cross, there is no path by which we can climb to Heaven! Having heard these words, I was in a powerful impetus to get in the middle of the square to shout with great cries, telling everyone, of any age, sex, state and condition they were: "Listen people, listen, all people: to the words taken from Christ's own mouth, I say: that we cannot acquire grace without suffering afflictions; there is the need of works and more works, to obtain the intimate participation of the divine nature, the glory of the children of God and the perfect beauty of the soul.
This stimulus impetuously drove me to preach on the beauty of the divine grace, it distressed me, made me sweat and crave it. It seems that the soul could no longer detain itself in the bodily prison, but instead it had to break free from the prison, free and alone, with much agility, it should go throughout the world, crying out: "Oh, if mortals only knew what a great thing is grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious, how many riches are hidden in it, how many treasures, how much jubilation and delights! Without doubt, they would employ all diligence, cares and anxieties to search for pains and afflictions, they would walk through the world searching for troubles, illnesses and torments, instead of adventures, to obtain the ultimate treasure of the constancy of suffering. No one would complain of their cross or works which are their lot if they knew the scale where they weighted and shared among men.
Mary's love for us neither ceased nor diminished after her assumption into Heaven. It rather increased there, for now she sees human miseries all the more. How unfortunate we would be if Mary did not lovingly pray for us from Heaven.St. Anselm
A happy anniversary to Mother Angelica who today is celebrating her 67th year in religious life! It's also the 30th Anniversary of her founding EWTN. Happy feast day Mother.
On Monday, August 8, 2011, Rev. Bohdan Borowec from Winnipeg was acquitted of all charges of kidnapping and sex assault.Read entire article here. Be sure to read "What Really Happened"
The defense produced evidence at trial that demonstrated the complaining witness fabricated the charges and was seeking attention with intent to obtain money from the church. Prior to trial, the prosecutor suppressed evidence regarding the complaining witness’s mental health history and prior false allegations.
Father Borowec has been detained in Hawaii for six months pending trial. The support and prayers from around the world have greatly assisted him during this difficult time.
"...It follows that our devotion to His Holy Mother must be a continuation of His devotion to her. We must be filled with the sentiments of respect, submission and affection which He entertained for her on earth and still entertains in heaven. Mary always held and will hold forever the first place in the Sacred Heart of her Divine Son; she always was and will never cease to be the first object of His love after the Eternal Father; and so He wishes tha, next to God, she should be the principal object of our devotion. Fort his reason, after the veneration we owe to the Divine Majesty of God, we cannot render a greater service to Jesus Christ or do anything more ;leasing to Him than to serve and honor His most worthy Mother."
