Saturday, November 17, 2007

National Adoption Day

Holy FamilyThe Susan B. Anthony List reminded me that today is National Adoption Day.

To all you families who were blessed to be able to adopt a child, this day is for you...and for us!

I know that St. Joseph is considered Jesus foster father and I never understood that. I like to think of him as Jesus' adoptive father.

Making a Good Confession

Reflection on Judging Others

Raulito of Disciple of the Dumb Ox has a very good post on Matthew 7:1-6. Many times judging others is on the top of my list of sins to confess. One very wise priest would often remind me "Judge not, lest ye be judged".

It also reminds me of a seen in the movie Witness the one where Harrison Ford is protecting a young Amish boy who witnessed a killing. The young boy tells his grandfather that the killer was a bad man. The grandfather chides him and says something to the effect "You can see what is inside his heart"? That has always stuck with me. Of course, it would help if I remembered it before I judged someone.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Sister Lucia's Vision of Hell

Sister Lucia
Shared by Sue

In her Memoirs, Sister Lucy describes the vision of hell that Our Lady showed the children at Fatima:
"She opened Her hands once more, as She had done the two previous months. The rays [of light] appeared to penetrate the earth, and we saw, as it were, a vast sea of fire. Plunged in this fire, we saw the demons and the souls [of the damned]. The latter were like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, having human forms. They were floating about in that conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames which issued from within themselves, together with great clouds of smoke. Now they fell back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fright (it must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, as people say they heard me).

The demons were distinguished [from the souls of the damned] by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals. That vision only lasted for a moment, thanks to our good Heavenly Mother, Who at the first apparition had promised to take us to Heaven. Without that, I think that we would have died of terror and fear."

Litany of the Departed

Shared by Sue

Source: Holy Souls

For the spirits who have fled
From the earth which once they trod;
For the loved and faithful dead,
We beseech the living God!
Oh! receive and love them!
By the grave where Thou Overt lying,
By the anguish of Thy dying,
Spread Thy wings above them;
Grant Thy pardon unto them,
Dona cis requiem!

Long they suffered here below,
Outward fightings, inward fears;
Ate the cheerless bread of woe,
Drank the bitter wine of tears:
Now receive and love them!
By Thy holy Saints departures,
By the witness of Thy martyrs,
Spread Thy wings above them.
On the souls in gloom who sit,
Lux eterna luceat!

Lord, remember that they wept,
When Thy children would divide;
Lord, remember that they slept
On the bosom of Thy Bride;
And receive and love them!
By the tears Thou couldst not smother;
By the love of Thy dear Mother,
Spread Thy wings above them.
To their souls, in bliss with Thee,
Dona pacem, Domini!

Grant our prayers, and bid them pray,
O thou Flower of Jesse's stem;
Lend a gracious ear when they
Plead for us, as we for them.
Deus Angelorum,
Dona cis requiem,
Et beatitudinem.
Cordibus eorum
Jesu, qui salutam das
Micat lumen animas!

Our Children - Living Sacrifices

Shared by Sue
A famous commercial asks, "Do you know where your children are tonight?" "Sure," you may say, "they're right in the other room watching television." With that assurance, you settle down to a good night's sleep. But, should it be left at that? Are Christian parents falling into Satan's trap of the false assurance that as long as their kids are at home they're okay, when this may sometimes be far from the truth?

The Word says, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire..." (Deuteronomy 18:10). One could extrapolate from that: don't sacrifice your children to demons ... wherever they are. You wouldn't leave your kids in your living room drinking a quart of vodka, but what are they drinking into their souls through your TV...with what spirits are they "communing"?

What is behind all the brutal violence, sexuality and greed so prevalent in the most popular programming? The Apostle Paul warned: "...the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons..." (1 Corinthians 10:20-21).

Of course, there are worthwhile Christ-centered programs on television and also on DVD. But, if viewing isn't monitored and selective, what are your children watching? Someday your children's lives will bear the fruit of what they are absorbing now. Consider whose cup they are drinking from daily. Re-evaluate tonight your responsibilities as parents when it comes to your children's television habits, so you can all have sweet dreams.

Let's Pray Together…

Heavenly Father, thank you for the children you have entrusted to me. Keep me from allowing them to be sacrificed to demon spirits through television or other worldly sources. Grant me wisdom and courage to monitor their viewing so they might grow up strong, committed and bringing glory to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Author Unknown

My Lord and My God - Finished Version

It is now easier to read.
Thanks to Joey who spent the whole day helping me with my first attempt.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Blessing of Those Not in Full Communion With the Church

I read somewhere that those not in full communion with the Catholic Church should not go up during Communion to receive a blessing instead. Problem is I don't remember where I read it.

Here in Hawaii is common for people, especially little kids who haven't received their First Holy Communion, proceed up the aisle with their arms crossed over their chests. This being a sign to the priest or EMHC that they are to receive a blessing instead.

Does anyone know the exact citation?

More on Detraction: Fr. John Hardon

Diane K of Te Deum Laudamus has more on the sin of detraction from another holy and wise priest, the late Fr. John Hardon:
The immediate focus of the Eighth Commandment is falsehood that does injury to one's neighbor. Harm to another person's reputation, therefore, is the special prohibition of this divine mandate.

A person's reputation may be injured in various ways, notably by detraction and calumny or slander. Detraction is the unjust violation of the good reputation of another by revealing something true about him. Calumny or slander differs from detraction in that what is said or imputed about a person is not true.
To read Fr. Hardon's writings regarding detraction in its entirety, please go to:

Fr. John Hardon on Detraction as well as the links that Diane provides on her blog.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Hail Mary

I was going to post this on a Saturday but I couldn't wait. It is so beautiful

Thanks to Evangelizaton 2.0 and like Tom, it brings back lovely memories of my wedding day. My husband and I also chose this beautiful song as the processional for our nuptial Mass.

Methods of Assisting at Holy Mass

Priest
"It is a common practice to limit our prayers to petition. This is a mistake. We owe God, first of all, adoration; secondly, gratitude.

We can never thank Him sufficiently, though we were to employ eternity n so doing, for the innumerable gifts, material and spiritual, temporal and eternal, which He bestowed upon us. Life, redemption, our Catholic faith, preservation from grave sin, the grace of conversion, health, relatives and friends- theres are but a few of God's gifts.

Let us rejoice, therefore, to thank God by means of the Holy Mass.

After adoration and thanksgiving comes atonement.

Prostrate at the foot of Calvary's cross, down which the most precious blood of Jesus Christ flowers from His gaping wounds, we should beg pardon for our sins which have thus nailed Christ to the cross. Let us ask Him to pure His precious blood over our souls that they may be cleansed from their polluting stains.

Prayer of petition should not be forgotten It it we beg of God for the favors of which we stand in need."
-from Association of Marian Helpers.

Why We Should Hear Holy Mass

Eucharist

The Mass is the best means we have:

1. To render God the highest form of worship.

2. To thank Him for all His blessings.

3. To make reparation for all our sins.

4. To obtain all the blessings we desire.

5. To release souls from purgatory and to shorten our own time there.

6. To preserve us from all dangers to soul and body.

7. To be consoled at the hour of death, for at that moment their memory will be our greatest consolation.

8. To intercede for us at the Judgment Seat of God.

9. To bring down God's blessings; therefore, try to assist at Mass every day, or as often as possible, and twice on Sundays. [This is news to me]

10. To better understand the sublimity of the Passion of Christ, and there to increase our love for Him.

-From the Association of Marian Helpers

Spiritual Communion

St. Tarcisius
St. Tarcisius



My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.
A Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament and to embrace Him lovingly, as if you had actually received Him when it is not in your power to receive Him sacamentally.
-The Catechism in Examples by Rev. D. Chisholm

Spiritual Communion is the reserve of Eucharistic Life and Love always available for lovers of the Eucharistic Jesus. By means of spiritual Communion, the loving desires of the soul that wants to be united with Jesus, its dear Bridegroom, are satisfied. Spiritual Communion is a union of love between the soul and Jesus in the Host. This union is spiritual but nonetheless real, more real than the union between the soul and the body., 'because the soul lives more where it loves than where it lives,"
says St. John of the Cross - Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr. Stefan M. Manelli.

Both are taken from the Nocturnal Adoration Society newsletter.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Feast Day of St. Frances X. Cabrini

Mother Cabrini
First Naturalized American citizen to be canonized a Catholic saint
.

From the opening prayer at Mass this morning:

God our Father,
you called Frances Xavier Cabrini from Italy
t serve the immigrants of America.
By her example teach us concern for the stranger,
the sick and the frustrated.
By her prayers help us to see Christ
in all the men and women we meet.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

"Regardless of how difficult a project is, I place it in the adorable Heart of Jesus. The I can securely rest in peace, even when far away, knowing well that He knows what to do and brings to completion every work that I desire for His glory...
Mother Frances X. Cabrini

One of my favorite places to visit in Colorado is the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado. We have been able to visit thee twice and both times it was a breathtaking experience because of the view and the beauty of the shrine itself. The white stones Mother herself placed in a shape of a heart can still be seen at the shrine.

Mother Cabrini Shrine

Monday, November 12, 2007

Message From Fr. Groeschel

Don't Engage in Detraction

Diane K Te Deum Laudamus is sharing Fr. Groeschel message to Catholic Bloggers when it comes to discussing Fr. Francis Mary as well as the reason behind it.

As usual, Fr. Groeschel shows us why he is a wise and holy priest.

Mahalo Diane for sharing it.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Living on a Prayer

For all my favorites Jesuits starting with St. Ignatius, Fr. John Hardon, Fr. Mitch Pacwa and Fr. Dave Travers. Correction: How could I forget Fr. Joseph Fessio! Thanks Diane for the reminder!

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day

Prayer on Veteran's Day

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,
those whom we honor today
are examples of your words:
"Greater love than this no one has:
that he lay down his life for his friends."
They gave up their lives in the defense of freedom
for their loved ones and their country.

Teach me to appreciate the virtue of patriotism-
a true and Christian love of country.
Let me love my country not to follow it blindly
but to make it the land of goodness
that it should be.
Let my patriotism be such
that tit will not exclude the other nations of the world
but include them in a powerful love of country
that has room for all others too.
Amen

From New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Times

Here's a joke that Fr. J told during his homily today:

Do you know what the difference is between the Pharisees and the Sadducees?

Well, the Pharisees believe in the resurrection.

The Sadducees don't.

That is why they are sad you see (Sadd-u-cees)! :-)


Seriously, today's Gospel reading had lots of food for thought. One the one hand, I looked over at my husband during Mass and couldn't imagine no longer being married to him and on the other hand, he and I will be together forever in paradise.

Also, be sure to check out Nova Et Vetera's post on this gospel.