Fr. Duffy has a hand painted on hanging in his home.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Fr. Joe Whalen Finally Has a Website - St. Raphael Healing Oil!
According to Sue Fr. Joe Whalen has a new site for the healing oil ministry. Archangel St. Raphael Holy Healing Ministry
Fr. Joe has a very interesting story of conversion and then becoming a priest in later life. You can read about it HERE
In our home, we are sure to have a steady supply of the healing oil. It has helped us and our friends when needed most. Side note: He once called my parent's home to return my mom's phone call. I got to briefly speak to him as I answered the phone ;-)
Fine Art Friday
This week we spotlight the work of a High Renaissance master, Raphael.
Raphael Sanzio, usually known by his first name alone (in Italian Raffaello)(April 6 or March 28, 1483 – April 6, 1520)was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance, celebrated for the perfection and grace of his paintings and drawings. Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period.]Source: Wikipedia
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Lenten Resolutions and Meditations by Blessed Mother Teresa
Found in today's Magnificat readings.
During Lent we shall in a special way and with deep feeling meditate on the Passion of Our Lord and examine our conscience on what sin of ours caused that special pain to Jesus.
I will make reparation and share that pain by doubling my penance.
I shall keep strict custody of my eyes;
I shall keep clean thoughts in my mind;
I shall touch the sick with greater gentleness and compassion;
I shall keep the silence of the heart with greater care, so that in the silence of my heart I hear his words of comforts, and from the fullness of my yeart I comfort Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor.
I shall confess especially my neglect of penance.
We often pray, "Let me share with you your pain; I want to be the companion of Jesus crucified," and yet when a little spittle of an uncharitable remark or a thorn of thoughtfulness is given to us, how we forget that this is the time to share with him his shame and pain.
During this Lent let us improve our spirit of prayer and recollection. Let us free our minds from all that is not Jesus...
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Concerned about Being Scrupulous or Feeling Guilty ?
Well make sure you don't miss Sunday Night Live with Father Benedict Groeschel. This Sunday's topic on March 9th is
How to Deal with Scruples & Guilt.
If you can, try calling in. Father Groeschel gently reprimanded us for not calling in when his guest a couple of weeks ago, an elderly priest talked about his work and vocation as a priest.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Saintly Quote - Adoration
Shared by Sue
Let Us Adore
Let us adore Jesus in our hearts, who spent 30 years out of 33 in silence; who began his public life by spending 40 days in silence; who often retired alone to spend the night on a mountain in silence. He, who spoke with authority, now spends his earthly life in silence. Let us adore Jesus in the Eucharistic silence.Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Monday, March 03, 2008
The World Needs More Encouragers
Shared by SueCriticizers are not hard to find. What the world needs are good encouragers. Not more people to find fault, but people to point outSteve Goodier
strengths and encourage us to excel. The most successful people look for positive qualities. They see potential where others see failure. And they encourage success in others.
Mark Twain put it like this: "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, can become great."
Who do you spend time with? Criticizers or encouragers? Surround yourself with those who believe in you. Your life is too important for anything less.
Saintly Quote - Thoughtfulness
Shared by Sue
Thoughtfulness is the beginning of great sanctity. If you learn this art of being thoughtful, you will become more and more Christ-like, for his heart was meek and always thought of others.Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Do Not Criticize a Priest....Pray for Him
That was Fr. John Corapi's message this past weekend on his program on EWTN
It is so easy to find fault in our priests. You hear complaints and criticizes all the time from people in our our parishes, on Catholic blogs, in our families! You know what I mean..."Father A. should be more holy"... "I wish Father B was more orthodox like Father C". ..."Father D commited X number of liturgical abuses"..."Father E isn't around when I need him"..."Father E. isn't approachable"., etc., etc. I have been guilty of that too.
Just because we notice a priest committing a liturgical abuse, be it intentional or unintentional, it gives us no right to criticize him to another person. If we really loved the priest we would tell him face-to-face, instead of behind his back. Like Fr. Corapi reminded us, there would be no sacrifice of the Holy Mass without a priest.
From now on, instead of finding fault in your priest to criticize, pray for him, make sacrifices for him and let God take care of the rest.
Prayer for Priests
O Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father [N].
Give him a deep faith
a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations, point out to him
that it is through suffering that the soul is purified,
and show him that he is needed by the Church,
he is needed by souls,
he is needed for the work of redemption.
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
because of his priestly ordination,
and because of the power which he has received
to carry on the work of Christ
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength,
and especially help him
to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.
John Joseph, Cardinal Carberry (+1998)
Archbishop of St. Louis 1968-1979
Source:Women for Faith and Family
