Indulgences for World Day of the Sick -Reminder

Indulgence Offered for World Day of Sick
Church Hopes for Catechesis on "Value and Function of Pain"

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A plenary indulgence can be obtained by participants in the World Day of the Sick, the Vatican announced.

The Holy See published a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary today, stating that a plenary indulgence is granted to faithful who take part in the celebrations of the World Day of the Sick, as well as to patients and those who care for them, or who are united to them spiritually.

The main venue for the day, celebrated Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, will be Seoul, South Korea.

Benedict XVI will be represented in Seoul by Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry.

In his message for the day, the Holy Father established that this year would be dedicated in a special way to patients with incurable or terminal illnesses.

Vatican decree

The decree granting the indulgences, signed by Cardinal James Francis Stafford, major penitentiary, explains that the Church "earnestly desires that the annual observance of the World Day of the Sick will become an effective catechesis of the teaching … on the value and function of pain."

The decree states: "A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful that, with the usual conditions -- sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the Holy Father's intentions -- and with a spirit detached from all sin, take part with devotion, next Feb. 11, in the city of Seoul or in any other place established by the ecclesiastical authority, in a sacred ceremony celebrated to implore God for the objectives of the 15th World Day of the Sick.

"The faithful who in public hospitals or private homes assist the sick with charity as 'good Samaritans,' especially the incurable or terminal and, because of their service cannot take part in the ceremony indicated earlier, will obtain the same gift of the plenary indulgence, if on that day they generously give at least an hour of their charitable assistance to the sick as if they did it to Christ the Lord himself, having their spirit detached from all sin and the intention to comply, as soon as possible, with the conditions needed to obtain the plenary indulgence."

The decree continues: "The faithful who because of illness, advanced age or any other similar reason cannot take part in the indicated ceremony, will obtain the plenary indulgence, on the condition that, having the spirit detached from all sin and intending to fulfill as soon as possible the usual conditions, on that day united to the Holy Father, take part spiritually with desire in the above-said celebration and offer to God, through the Virgin Mary, 'Health of the Sick,' their physical and spiritual sufferings."

Finally, the decree "grants the plenary indulgence to all the faithful, from Feb. 9 to 11, every time that with a contrite heart they address to the merciful God devout prayers to implore the above said objectives in assistance to the sick, in particular of the incurable or terminal."

ZE07020509

The Screwtape Letters Movie

H/T to Ignatius Insight


If you are a fan of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, and I'm sure you are, you will be happy to know that a screen adaptation is presently being contemplated. Christianity Today's reports:

Studio behind Narnia, Charlotte's Web to adapt C.S. Lewis' beloved novel; Ralph Winter, Douglas Gresham to produce. Click above for article.

For excerpts of letters to Wormwood by his affectionate uncle Screwtape, Click HERE

"MY DEAR WORMWOOD,

I note with grave displeasure that your patient has become a Christian. Do not indulge the hope that you will escape the usual penalties; indeed, in your better moments, I trust you would hardly even wish to do so. In the meantime we must make the best of the situation. There is no need to despair; hundreds of these adult converts have been reclaimed after a I brief sojourn in the Enemy's camp and are now with us. All the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favour..."

Amazing Grace - The Movie

In last month's issue of The Word Among Us, I read an article on John Newton, the composer of the famous hymn, Amazing Grace. Before reading the article I was unaware that the composer was a slave trafficker but that eventually he had a conversion of heart.

Today on the Hawaii Family Forum website, I found that there is a movie soon to be released on this story.

Click here for more information and to watch the trailer of the movie.

An Artist of Worth

Picture courtesy of Peggy Chun Website You can see samples of her artwork by visiting her website.

When I moved to Hawaii, I was enthralled by the local artwork. One of the artists whose works I really enjoyed was Peggy Chun. Her work was beautiful in depicting familiar Hawaiian settings, beaches, the floral and even her pet cat Boo. We bought a little print recently and I wish I could post the photo here. It shows Boo in a little swimsuit next to a surfboard. It is very whimsical. Peggy, a devout Catholic has also painted portraits of Hawaii's own soon-to-be saint, Blessed Mother Marianne Cope.

However, Peggy was struck down with ALS or "Lou Gehrig's Disease". In recent years she has declined in health, which affected her movement, and now she is paralyzed. Throughout this whole progression of the disease, Mrs. Chun kept painting.

This week's Hawaii Catholic Herald features Peggy Chun's newest project that of creating a mosaic of Blessed Damien, with the help of some Catholic school children. You can read more about this amazing women by clicking the title above or the link for the Hawaii Catholic Herald.

The World Apostolate of Fatima and Pledge

One of my favorite places when visiting New Jersey is the Blue Army Shrine, located in Washington, New Jersey. The picture below is a statue of Pope John Paul II near the pond area of the shrine.



To learn more of the history of this amazing shrine and apostolate, click HERE

Which brings me to this post. Have you made your pledge yet? The following is taken from the 2006 Issue 3 of Soul Magazine and my pledge card:

What is the Pledge?

The pledge is a positive way for an individual to respond to Our Lady's Fatima Message of prayer and sacrifice. By pledging, a person offers daily to God the sacrifices in fulfilling the duties of their state in life and keeping His law, as acts of reparation for sinners. This is a daily offering, which includes the Rosary and other prayers, and while it is non-binding, it is an offering one promises to renew often, especially in moments of temptation.

What Are the Essential Conditions of the Pledge?

There are four practices that an individual promises to fulfill to the best of their ability:

1. Pray the Rosary daily.

2. Consecrate one's self to God through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Wear the Brown Scapular as a sign of your consecration to Our Blessed Mother.

3. In reparation for sinners, offer to God the sacrifices demanded by your daily duty in keeping His law. This can be fulfilled through recitation of the Morning Offering, or a similar prayer.

4. Accomplish the devotion of the Five First Saturdays of the month, including fifteen minutes of meditation on the Mysteries of the Rosary.

What is the Morning Offering?

This prayer is modeled after the Eucharistic Prayer recited by the Angel of Fatima at his third appearance in 1916.

"O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus present on all the altars of the world, joining with the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day."

"O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can, and I offer them together with myself, to Mary Immaculate --That she may best apply them to the interests of they most Sacred Heart."

Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

What are the Benefits of Making the Pledge?

There are seven benefits:

1. You know you are fulfilling Our Lady's conditions to obtain the conversion and the peace of Christ for the World.

2. You obtain numerous indulgences through the Rosary and the Scapular.

3. You become eligible for the spiritual graces of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. These are graces received in this life, at the hour of death and after death.

4. Your name is sent to Fatima and buried near the apparition site.

5. You share in the prayers of millions of members of the Apostolate.

6. You become a spiritual child of Saint Pio.

7. You participate in the new Evangelization proposed by the Holy Father.

Is Making the Pledge Enough?

All who Pledge are encouraged to help learn, live and spread Our Lady's message of Hope, Peace and Salvation. This can be done by simply leaving Pledge cards in the back of a church. Or, more effectively, by helping others understand the critical need to spiritually nourish the world and this is accomplished by the Pledge developed by Sister Lucia in response to Our Lady's request at Fatima.

How Do I Obtain a Copy of the pledge?

You can visit their website by clicking the title above or by writing them at the following:

The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA
P O BOX 976
Washington, NJ 07882-0976

or email at service@bluearmy.com

or calling 908-689-1700 ext. 18

St. Gianna : A Model for Mothers

Like most Catholic mothers, I really admire this saint. Not only was she a true hero in the prolife movement by her unselfish sacrifice, but she was also a loving wife and mother.

Recently, in an Ignatius Press e-newsletter, there appeared an article on a book written on St. Gianna by another woman I admire greatly, Helen Hull Hitchcock, the editor of Voices and director of Women for Faith and Family, and excerpt follows:

In canonizing Gianna Beretta Molla this spring, the Church officially recognized the extraordinary sanctity of a woman who chose to live an ordinary life-as a professional and, later, as a wife and mother. Though she had once considered entering a religious order, instead she practiced medicine (receiving her medical degree in 1949, and her specialty in pediatrics in 1952). She devoted herself to caring for her patients, and her selflessness and dedication as a physician endeared her to the people. But it was not only her practice of medicine that influenced them. She regarded her profession as a mission through which she could aid and nurture both bodies and souls. The young doctor's devotion to her Catholic faith was well known in her community, and especially her instruction of young Catholic girls in their faith.

Click HERE for the rest of the article.

I would also recommend the book: Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla: Love Letters to My Husband, edited by Elio Guerriro and published by Pauline Books and Media. As you can ascertain from the title, it is a collection of letters Gianna, now St. Gianna, wrote to her husband before and during their marriage.

Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita

Picture courtesy of Jane Ellen Official Site

St. Josephine Bakhita please pray for the people of the Sudan.

The following is also from that site:

Bakhita: African Flower (1869-1947)

Bakhita (Arabic for "fortunate one") was only a young child in the Sudan when she was kidnapped, imprisoned, and sold into slavery. The winds of change blew her first into freedom, and then into religious communal life with the Canossian Daughters of Charity in northern Italy. Despite the horrific cruelty and torture to which she had been subjected, Bakhita never condemned those who treated her badly. She continually praised the circumstances of her life which led her to her religious vocation. Serving as a missionary, she often closed her talks with the following words:

"Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know him. What a great grace it is to know God!"

Bakhita was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 17 May 1992. Eight years later she was canonised on 1 October 2000, at the Basilica of San Pietro in Rome, a Saint of the Jubilee Year. Her memorial is celebrated annually on 8 February.

Pecans in the Cemetery

Picture is ofBonaventure Cemetery
Thanks Martha via email!

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence.

One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me."

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off.

Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."

The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..."

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord."

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."

They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the kid on the bike.

Scandal at 23 Catholic Colleges/Universities

Scandalizing students nationwide, 23 Catholic colleges and universities intend to allow performances of the lewd "V***** Monologues" play, a piece replete with sexual encounters, lust, and graphic descriptions of lesbian behavior. (Asterisks added for modesty)

Click HERE for the rest of the article and to sign the online petition.

A Tranquil Blog

There are many Catholic blogs that I try to read regularly. Some inform, some teach, some share their daily lives with their readers, a few are quite humerous, and a few are even controversial. They are all very interesting blogs. But there is one blog that consistently offers me peace.

That blog belongs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's Exchange. It is an unassuming little blog which offers posts that are spiritually helpful, healthy and it just makes me feel good. So I want to publickly spotlight Denise's little blog. Mahalo Denise!

Humor Break - The Religious Battle of Golf

Picture courtesy of Golf Digest

Fr. Duffy wanted to hear a new joke today and since he used to be an avid golf player I thought he'd enjoy this one and he did.

The Pope met with the College of Cardinals to discuss a proposal from Shimon
Peres, the former leader of Israel. "Your holiness," said one of the Cardinals,
"Mr. Peres wants to determine whether Jews or Catholics are superior, by
challenging you to a golf match." The Pope was greatly disturbed, as he had
never held a golf club in his life.

"Not to worry," said the Cardinal, "we'll call America and talk to Jack
Nicklaus. We'll make him a Cardinal, he can play Shimon Peres... We can't lose!"
Everyone agreed it was a good idea. The call was made and, of course, Jack was
honored and agreed to play.

The day after the match, Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to inform the Pope of his success in the match. "I came in second, your Holiness," said Nicklaus.

"Second?!!" exclaimed the surprised Pope. "You came in second to Shimon Peres?!!"

"No," said Nicklaus, "second to Rabbi Woods."

Sacrilegious Reporting and the Confessional

By now, almost everyone must be aware of the unscrupulous reporting by an Italian magazine. Click here for story. The following is what Fr. Robert Fox posted on his blog:

..."What those reporters did, was highly unethical and no less then a sacrilegious abuse of the Sacrament of Reconciliation [Confession] instituted by Jesus Christ. To go into the Confessional and pretend to be penitents with supposed sins one had committed - all of which was a lie and a mockery of the Church, an attempt to divide
priests and Pope - to get a sensational story to sell copy of their publication - was an objective sacrilegious act whether those reporters and their magazine executives had the faith or not.

With such dishonest and sacrilegious endeavors - how can readers trust that the answers the priests were supposed to have given - were honestly represented and reported??????????? With that many reporters accepting such immoral and sacrilegious assignments - how could anyone trust in the future what those reporters would write???? If they would not stop at sacrilege regarding one of Christ’s Sacraments - how can any one trust their reporting????????"

Gospel Quiz

Another friend from the same Catholic group I have been getting wonderful information from, has shared the following quiz. You will have to scroll down for the answers.
How well did you do? Post results in comment section.

Do you know your Gospel writers? After each statement below see if you can choose the Gospel writer that the statement belongs to. Is it Mark, Luke, John, or Matthew?

1. I wrote the first Gospel:


2. My Gospel is filled with symbolic language and images:


3. I am reputed to be the "disciple whom Jesus loved." :


4. I appear to have organized my Gospel like the first five books of
the Old Testament :


5. It is believed that I also wrote the book of Acts :


6. My Gospel has a heavy sense of suffering with many references to
trials and persecutions :


7. I am reputed to be a non-Jew :


8. In my Gospel I emphasize Jesus as a powerful teacher :


9. In my Gospel I attempt to present an understanding of Jesus as the
Son of God :


10. I wrote to offer those who were already Christians help in better
understanding their faith and roots :


11. My Gospel emphasizes Jesus' humanity :


12. I want the readers of my Gospel to understand that the Christian
message is for everyone-rich and poor, men and women, Jews and
Gentiles :


13. I want my readers to understand that Jesus' life is a fulfillment
of the promises made by God to Israel :


14. My Gospel is the only Gospel that uses the word "church" :


15. The truths I attempt to share in my Gospel are more deeply
theological and reflective than the truths in the other Gospels :


16. I emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life :


17. I wrote my Gospel with Gentile (non-Jewish) readers in mind :


18. My Gospel constantly reminds the reader of the joy that is shared
by those who experience God's forgiving love in Jesus :


19. It is estimated that we wrote our Gospels in the middle to late
80's, CE :















1. I wrote the first Gospel:
Mark. Mark's Gospel is generally thought to have been written around
70 CE.

2. My Gospel is filled with symbolic language and images:
John

3. I am reputed to be the "disciple whom Jesus loved." :
John

4. I appear to have organized my Gospel like the first five books of
the Old Testament :
Matthew. Matthew had a particular desire to show the Jewish people
that Jesus clearly was the Messiah they were waiting for.

5. It is believed that I also wrote the book of Acts :
Luke

6. My Gospel has a heavy sense of suffering with many references to
trials and persecutions :
Mark

7. I am reputed to be a non-Jew :
Luke

8. In my Gospel I emphasize Jesus as a powerful teacher :
Matthew

9. In my Gospel I attempt to present an understanding of Jesus as the
Son of God :
John

10. I wrote to offer those who were already Christians help in better
understanding their faith and roots :
Luke

11. My Gospel emphasizes Jesus' humanity :
Mark

12. I want the readers of my Gospel to understand that the Christian
message is for everyone-rich and poor, men and women, Jews and
Gentiles :
Luke

13. I want my readers to understand that Jesus' life is a fulfillment
of the promises made by God to Israel :
Matthew

14. My Gospel is the only Gospel that uses the word "church." :
Matthew

15. The truths I attempt to share in my Gospel are more deeply
theological and reflective than the truths in the other Gospels :
John. As the last Gospel written, in approximately 90-100 CE, John's
community had almost 90 years to reflect and live Jesus' Good News
before he wrote the Gospel.

16. I emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life :
Luke

17. I wrote my Gospel with Gentile (non-Jewish) readers in mind :
Mark

18. My Gospel constantly reminds the reader of the joy that is shared
by those who experience God's forgiving love in Jesus :
Luke

19. It is estimated that we wrote our Gospels in the middle to late
80's, CE :
Matthew and Luke

Scripture Reading

A friend from a Catholic group shared the following:

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who use Sacred Scripture for spiritual reading with the veneration due the word of God.

A plenary indulgence is granted if the reading continues for at least one half-hour
Another friend from the same group also shared a Protestant film on YouTube on Lectio Divina.

The video contained information on actually meditating instead of simply reading the words from the Holy Bible. This idea intrigued me so I looked for a Catholic video on YouTube. I found one but it is not permitted to be used. If you have a chance, go watch it by searching Lectio Divina. It is the one by monks.

I did find more information at the Fish Eaters site. The following is from there:

Lectio Divina (pronounced "Lec-tsee-oh Di-vee-nah") means "Divine Reading" and
refers specifically to a method of Scripture reading practiced by monastics
since the beginning of the Church.

The early centrality of reading of Sacred Scripture, and then meditating and praying over its meaning, is evident in the 48th chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict (A.D. 480-453), a book written by the Great Saint to guide monastic life.

But it was an 11th c. Carthusian prior named Guigo 1 who formalized Lectio Divina, describing the method in a letter written to a fellow religious. This letter, which has become known as Scala Paradisi -- the Stairway to Heaven -- describes a 4-runged ladder to Heaven, each rung being one of the four steps in his method of Bible reading. Those steps, and Guigo's brief descriptions of them, are:


lectio
(reading): "looking on Holy Scripture with all one's will and wit"

meditatio (meditation): "a studious insearching with the mind to know
what was before concealed through desiring proper skill"

oratio
(prayer): "a devout desiring of the heart to get what is good and avoid what is
evil"

contemplatio (contemplation): "the lifting up of the heart to God
tasting somewhat of the heavenly sweetness and savour"

Through the practice of Lectio Divina by monastics in group settings, three other steps are sometimes added to the four above such that the steps become:


statio
(position)

lectio (reading)

meditatio (meditation)

oratio (prayer)

contemplatio (contemplation)

collatio
(discussion)

actio (action)

Aloha

Today's first reading caught my attention because it mentioned "The Breath of Life" something essential to all living creatures on earth, and a way of life for the Hawaiians.

...At the time when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens--while as yet there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the filed had sprouted, for the Lord God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till th esoil, but a stream was welling u pout of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground--the Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being...

Genesis Chapter 2:4-7

The word aloha derives from the Hawaiian words alo meaning "presence," "front," "face," or "share"; and ha, meaning "breath of life" or "essence of life."

Over the decades the word aloha has been used in reference to a complex state of mind called the Aloha Spirit or sense of aloha. The Aloha Spirit is often described as a sense of care and hospitality to those around as well as respect for their personhood, even in the face of stressful environments, occasions or people...

from Wikipedia

Humor Break - The New York Times Finally Gets it Right

The following is from my friend Laura via email:

Hats off to the New York Times for this fine piece of reporting....you can always count on the Times to get it right.

Fr. Stan Fortuna - School of the Eucharist

Like I was just telling Joey, no, I don't like rap unless it's Fr. Stan doing the rapping.



The refrain is as follows:

refrain

at this school when i sit
even just a little bit
i get hit with the power
that made the veil in the temple split
when i submit
fall on the floor and adore
can’t get enough
got to come back for sa-more
every prostitute and sinner
every fool and hypocrite
can benefit in this school
repent and commit
as the incense rises up
in adoration of the throne
somethin happens
to my wounded heart
from all the love revealed and shown
bright light Shekina
comes to my aid to assist
to change and sustain
the way i think and exist
to feel the bliss because my name
is in the book of life’s list
that’s what happens when you sit
in the school of the Eucharist


The complete lyrics can be found at Francesco Productions

Prayer Request - For the People on the Mainland

like our friend Moneybags who are really suffering due to the harsh weather. May God protect them.

Love this Blog - Ironic Catholic

Thanks to Ma Beck I visited this new blog...well new to me and I just found it to be very entertaining. I immediately subscribed to it. Go check out the post that lead me to it:

Worship Faux Pas and How to Avoid Them

Portrait of the Son as a Young Pro-lifer

I found this photo today. You can see it's at least 9 years old by the looks of Joey. He has accompanied my husband and me on virtually all of the Hawaii March for Life events since he was 5 years old. Children are never to young to stand up for life.

Statues - Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart

The photos do not do these statues justice.

These two statues used to be above the Altar's sides in our Church before the Church was renovated. I sure miss the statues.

Feast Day - St. Paul Miki and Companions

Holy card courtesy of Nagasaki Martyrs

The following is also from there:

Twenty-six missionaries and Japanese converts crucified together on 5 February 1597. They include:

Antony Deynan

Bonaventure of Miyako (Meaco) OFM Tertiary a Japanese native who became a Franciscan tertiary and catechist. (He may only have been beatified and isn't included in the group of 26 who were canonized).

Caius Francis OFM Tertiary, Japanese soldier who had only recently been baptized and received as a Franciscan tertiary. He insisted on being arrested with the friars.

Cosmas Takeya (Tachegia, Zaquira) OFM Tertiary, lay Franciscan from Owari, Japan, who served the Franciscan missionaries as interpreter and preached in Osaka.

Diego (James) Kisai (Kizayemon) SJ, a Japanese layman who was the temporal coadjutor of the Jesuits and a catechist in Osaka. Like John Gotto, he was admitted to the Society of Jesus while he was imprisoned, just before his death at age 64.

Francis Blanco

Francis Falename

Francis of Nagasaki

Francis of Saint Michael

Gabriel de Duisco

Gundisalvus Garcia

James Kisai

John Kisaka (Kimoia) OFM tertiary, Japanese silk-weaver, born at Miyako. He was baptized and received into the third order shortly before his crucifixion.

Joachim Sakakibara (Saccachibara) OFM Tertiary, Japanese lay cook (another source says the physician) for the Franciscans at Osaka, who also served as a catechist.

John Soan de Goto Jesuit, 19-year-old native Japanese who was admitted to the Jesuits in prison shortly before his martyrdom. Prior to that he was a temporal-coadjutor of the Society of Jesus and catechist at Osaka.

Leo Karasumaru (Carasuma) Korean; pagan priest prior to his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized by the Jesuits in Japan in 1589. He became the first Korean Franciscan tertiary and was the chief catechist for the friars. With him was crucified his brother Paul Ibaraki and their 12-year-old nephew Louis Ibaraki.

Louis Ibaraki (Ibarki) 12-year-old nephew of Paul Ibaraki and Leo Karasumaru, who served as acolyte for the Franciscans.

Martin Loynaz (de Aguirre) of the Ascension OFM, a native of Vergara near Pamplona, Spain. He studied in Alcala and became a Franciscan in 1586. He first worked as a missionary in Mexico, then Manila in the Philippines, and finally in Japan.

Matthias of Miyako OFM Tertiary, Japanese native, became a Franciscan tertiary.

Michael Cozaki Japanese catechist and hospital nurse to the Franciscan missionaries. He was martyred with his own son, Thomas.

Paul Miki

Paul Ibaraki (Yuanki, Yuaniqui) Franciscan teriary, brother of Leo Karasumaru and a lay tertiary, interpreter, and catechist.

Paul Suzuki OFM Tertiary, born 1563, a native of Owari, Japan, was baptized by the Jesuits in 1584, became a Franciscan tertiary, and was an outstanding catechist until he, too, was crucified near Nagasaki.

Peter Baptist

Peter Sukejiroo, Peter Sukejiro, Peter Xukexico OFM tertiary, Japanese Franciscan tertiary who served as a catechist, house servant, and sacristan to the Franciscan missionaries. He was sent by a Jesuit priest to help the prisoners, and was then arrested.

Philip de las Casas OFM

Philip of Jesus

Thomas Kozaki, Thomas Cozaki, Thomas Kasaki

15-year-old Japanese native, who served as acolyte and was martyred with his father, Michael.
Thomas Xico (Dauki) OFM Tertiary, a Japanese Franciscan tertiary, catechist, and interpreter to the missionaries.

Ventura
a Japanese layman from Miyako who was baptized by the Jesuits, gave up his Catholicism on the death of his father, and brought back to the Church by the Franciscans.
----------------
For children: The Daughters of St. Paul have a lovely little page where they can learn more about these Catholic hereos:

Saint in the Spotlight

Washington Same-Sex Marriage Proponents: Require Heterosexual Couples to Have Kids or Face Annulment

Washington Same-Sex Marriage Proponents: Require Heterosexual Couples to Have Kids or Face Annulment

Monday, February 05, 2007

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Proponents of same-sex marriage have introduced a ballot measure that would require heterosexual couples to have a child within three years or have their marriages annulled.
The Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance acknowledged on its Web site that the initiative was "absurd" but hoped the idea prompts "discussion about the many misguided assumptions" underlying a state Supreme Court ruling that upheld a ban on same-sex marriage.

The measure would require couples to prove they can have children to get a marriage license. Couples who do not have children within three years could have their marriages annulled.

Click title above for rest of article.

Everything is Paid For

Thank you Sue.

The following is a reflection from My Daily Eucharist

One time, during the celebration of Holy Mass in the Church of St. Paul at the Three Fountains in Rome, St. Bernard saw an unending stairway which went up to Heaven. Very many angels went up and down on it, carrying from Purgatory to Paradise the souls freed by the Sacrifice of Jesus, renewed by priests on the altars all over the world.

Thus, at the death of one of our relatives, let us take much more care about having celebrated, and assisting at, Holy Masses for him, rather than about the flowers, the dark clothes and the funeral procession...

There are recounted many apparitions of souls being purified in Purgatory who came to ask Padre Pio to offer Holy Mass for their intentions so that they would be able to leave Purgatory. One day he celebrated Holy Mass for the father of one of his fellow Franciscan brothers. At the end of the Holy Sacrifice, Padre Pio said to his brother, "This morning the soul of your father has entered into Heaven." The brother was very happy to hear that, yet he said to Padre Pio, "But, Father, my good father died thirty-two years ago." "My son," Padre Pio replied, "before God everything is paid for." And it is Holy Mass which obtains for us a price of infinite value: The Body and the Blood of Jesus, the "Immaculate Lamb." (Apoc. 5:12).

Jesus Our Eucharistic Love
Fr. Stefano Manelli, O.F.M. Conv., S.T.D.

Priesthood: A Most Precious Gift

Picture courtesy of RCF

The priest...is something transcendent:
Through baptism he brings souls to birth,
through the sacrament of penance he purifies them,
through communion he gives them our Lord's body as He himself did at the Last supper, and
at the deaths he helps them to appear before the Beloved by giving them...
Their final forgiveness and their supreme strength...
Every single day of his life, he does what Jesus did during His three years of ministry --
he teaches men to know love and serve their good Master.

What a vocation!

--Charles de Foucauld

from a letter to a young friend preparing for ordination, 1897

For Christ's Priests
Servants of the Paraclete
13270 Maple Drive
St. Louis, MO 63127

Saintly Quote

There is no love without hope,
no hope without love,
and neither hope nor love without faith.

--St. Augustine

Spotlight - The Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers

As you may know, I am currently declutter and organizing every drawer, closet, bookshelf in our home. I found a little book/booklet entitled Improve: Now is the Acceptable Time! distributed by the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers.

I was happy to find that they also have a website. I wrote the priest in charge of this organization for permission to post excerpts from the book. Although, I still have not had a response. I am going to start sharing some of the writings with you because it will be very helpful spiritually. Hopefully, Father grant the permission soon.

IMPROVE:

"If we could manage to eradicate one of our faults every year, how soon it would make perfect people of us." That's a power thought from the Imitation of Christ.

1. Let's abstain from sarcasm.

2. Let's abstain from impatience.

3. Let's abstain from envy.

4. Let's abstain from complaining.

5. Let's abstain from boasting.

6. Let's abstain from using foul language.

7. Let's abstain from laziness, both physical and spiritual.

8. Let's abstain from uncharitable remarks.

9. Let's abstain from speeding.

10. Let's abstain from drinking before driving.

"TO BE SORRY MEANS TO BE WILLING TO QUIT SINNING!"

11. Let's abstain from sinful dating patterns.

12. Let's abstain from criticizing.

13. Let's abstain from watching too much TV.

14. Let's abstain from over-eating and over-drinking.

15. Let's abstain from sinful birth control.

16. Let's abstain from being grouchy.

17. Let's abstain from drugs.

18. Let's abstain from self-abuse.

19. Let's abstain from excusing our faults.

20. Let's abstain from being temperamental.

21. Let's abstain from adultery.

22. Let's abstain from being selfish.

23. Let's abstain from smoking to excess.

24. Let's abstain from being hard to get a long with.

Page 1 of the booklet.