Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, parents of our Blessed Mother Mary. They nurtured Mary and taught her how to listen and respond to God's request with faith:  "Let it be done to me according to Your Word."

This beautiful image is a picture of St. Joachim, St. Anne and the child Mary which is in the Shrine of the Basilica of Saint Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada.

Their example of faith gave Mary the courage to stand at the Foot of the Cross as her Beloved Son was crucified. They are examples and models for all parents, grandparents and for all married couples. Their heroism and holiness set the atmosphere for Mary.

The Scriptures were central to their family. Through the Word of God, Mary developed a strong virtuous character which helped her make prudent decisions, a continuous practice of prayer, devotion to the laws of her faith, steadiness in moments of crisis, and devotion to her relatives.

Saint Anne is the patron saint of mothers, grandmothers and pregnant women. Devotion to her was at the beginning of this prayer ministry. The Novena to Saint Anne had a powerful impact on the pregnancy and birth of Lily Grace because our family, our parish community and beyond were praying the Novena to Saint Anne that this precious baby would have abundant life. She is seventeen years old now. Her life is the fruit of prayer. The prayers were answered in the gift of this child who brings love and joy to everyone she meets.

Good Saint Anne, mother of her who is our life, our sweetness and our hope, pray to her for us and obtain our request.  Good Saint Anne, pray for us.  Jesus, Mary, Anne

"Joachim and Ann, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have born, as the Lord says: By their fruits you will know them. The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during and after giving birth. She alone for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body." Saint John Damascene, Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church

Good Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, pray for us and for all those for whom we pray.

Reflection: Jesus said to Mary Magdalen" "Woman, why are you weeping?"

The tomb is empty...

But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid Him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.  John 20:11-14

Meditation

Place yourself at the tomb. Mary is weeping and so are you. Suddenly, Jesus is standing there in your midst. At first, you do not recognize him. Jesus said to you, "Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Then He calls you by name and you know it is Jesus. He is truly risen! You embrace Him and He looks at you with great love and says, "Stop holding on to Me...Go to My brothers and tell them" Mary went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord." 

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to Him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take Him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them, 'I am going to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.'" Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and what He told her. John 20:15-18

Can YOU see the Lord? Turn to the Holy Spirit in prayer and Eucharistic adoration and ask Him to give you the courage and the words to draw others close to Him. He will fill you with His love, peace and joy and send you out to go and tell others about Him and His great love. 

How often do you want to hold onto something that you know you need to let go? How do you let go? You let go by asking Jesus to help you. He wants you to let go of attachments to the world and to people. He wants you to go and tell others about Him and how much He loves them. Mary of Magdala ran to the disciples and proclaimed, "I have seen the Lord!"

Can YOU see the Lord? Open your heart and invite him in. Then bring others to Him. Who is it in your life who is far away from the Lord? Ask Jesus to help you reach out to that person. When we bring others to our Blessed Mother Mary, she will bring them to her Beloved Son.

The promise is made to you and to your children, and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call. Acts 2:39

This promise is the gift of the Holy Spirit that Peter spoke of on the day of Pentecost. Jesus has risen from the dead!  Morning has broken.

Jesus has called YOU by name. He has given YOU a mission and commissioned YOU to go and tell others about Him. Are you seeking Him? Can YOU see Him?

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Our Blessed Mother Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock, a Carmelite hermit. He pleaded with Mary for some special sign of her protection. 

On July 16, 1251, she designated the scapular as the special mark of her maternal love. Mary told him to promote devotion to it. The scapular is a modified version of Mary’s own garment, a garment of grace. It symbolizes her special protection. She calls the wearers to consecrate themselves to her in a special way. The scapular reminds us of the Gospel call to prayer and penance, a call that Mary models.

Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is worldwide, and most Catholics are familiar with this Scapular which is also known as the Brown Scapular. When Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock and gave him the scapular, she said: "This will be for you and for all Carmelites the privilege, that he who dies in this will not suffer eternal fire." The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was instituted for the Carmelites in 1332, and extended to the whole Church by Benedict XIII in 1726.

During the apparitions in Fatima in 1917, the Blessed Virgin appeared as Our Lady of the Rosary and also as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Saint Teresa of Avila called Carmel “the Order of the Virgin.” While Teresa was in a crisis, her mother died. Afflicted and lonely, Teresa appealed to the Blessed Virgin to be her mother.

Saint John of the Cross credited Mary with saving him from drowning as a child, leading him to Carmel and helping him escape from prison.

Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus believed that Mary cured her from illness. On her First Communion, she dedicated her life to Mary. During the last days of her life, she frequently spoke of Mary.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, protect us and all those for whom we pray.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!

Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin. 

Novena to Saint Kateri
Kateri, favored child and Lily of the Mohawks, I come to seek your intercession in my present need: (State your intention here) I admire the virtues which adorned your soul: love of God and neighbor, humility, obedience, patience, purity and the spirit of sacrifice. Help me to imitate your example in my state of life. Through the goodness and mercy of God, Who has blessed you with so many graces which led you to the true faith and to a high degree of holiness, pray to God for me and help me.

Obtain for me a very fervent devotion to the Holy Eucharist so that I may love Holy Mass as you did and receive Holy Communion as often as I can. Teach me also to be devoted to my crucified Savior as you were, that I may cheerfully bear my daily crosses for love of Him Who suffered so much for love of me. Most of all I beg you to pray for me that I may avoid sin, lead a holy life and save my soul. Amen.

In Thanksgiving to God for the graces bestowed upon Kateri: (Recite the following prayers) Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...(3 times)

Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656. Her mother was Catholic and her father was a Mohawk warrior. When she was four years old, her mother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri and left scars on her face and affected her eyesight. She was often ridiculed by others. She was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle. As a teenager, she converted and was baptized at the age of twenty under the hostility of her family and tribe. 

She suffered greatly for her faith, was treated as an outcast, but never wavered in it. She ran away to a new Christian colony of Indians in Canada where she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penances, teaching children about the faith and caring for the sick and aged. In 1679, Kateri made a vow of perpetual virginity, meaning that she would remain unmarried and totally devoted to Christ for the rest of her life.

Her health deteriorated rapidly due in part to the penances she inflicted on herself. Father Cholonec encouraged her to take better care of herself but she laughed and continued with her "acts of love." She died in 1680 at the age of twenty-four. Devotion to Saint Kateri led to the establishment of Native American ministries in Catholic Churches all over the United States.

Kateri became known as the "Lily of the Mohawks." She loved the Rosary and carried it around her neck always. She was devoted to the Holy Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified.

People enjoyed being with her because they felt the presence of God. One time, a priest asked why they gathered around Kateri in church. They told him that they felt close to God when Kateri prayed. They said that her face changed when she was praying. It became full of beauty and peace, as if she were looking at God's face.

Saint Kateri, pray for us and for all the families we pray for through this ministry.

Saints Louis and Zelie, pray for us!

Today is the Feast Day of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower.

They were married at midnight between July 12 and July 13, 1858. Louis designed a marriage medallion for Zelie with the Biblical pictures of Sarah and Tobias on one side with the date on the other side and the initials of their names. symbolizing the coming together of two families.

Their marriage was one of love, as well as suffering. They desired to have many children for the Glory of God. In their openness to the gift of life, they had nine children, five of whom entered religious life. They lost four children at a young age.

The mission of their lives was to serve God. They lived modestly, reached out to help the poor and needy and led daily prayers in their home. Zelie died of breast cancer at the age of 45. Louis suffered greatly and had a three year stay in a psychiatric hospital. Through all their trials, they were devoted to a life of family and prayer.

God created man in His image, in the Divine Image, He created him; male and female, He created them. Genesis 1:27

The beauty of the Sacrament of Marriage is reflected in their lives of holiness, sanctity, prayer and good works. They are powerful intercessors for marriage and family life through their examples of the fidelity and faith in the married love of a man and woman. They were canonized saints on October 18, 2015.

We live in a culture which undermines holiness and the sacredness of life and marriage. Let us turn to them for their powerful intercession.

Saints Louis and Zelie, intercede for all families and pray for us and all the intentions we receive through this ministry and all those we hold in our hearts.

Saint Maria Goretti, Little Mercy Saint, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us!

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902), Virgin and Martyr.  Maria led a life of heroic virtue. She lived a brief life for God with fidelity, fortitude and forgiveness.

Heroic virtues are the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.

When Maria's purity was being threatened, she had the courage to choose death. She was stabbed fourteen times. Before she died, she forgave her attacker, a neighbor, Allesandro.

Maria had a pure heart and she kept her body pure.

Allesandro was sent to prison for her death. One night, Maria appeared to him in his prison cell and smiled at him. She was surrounded by lilies, the flower symbolic of purity. She handed him fourteen lilies, one at a time. From that moment, he was converted and his heart was filled with peace. After serving his sentence, he lived in a Capuchin monastery, working in the garden. He asked forgiveness of Maria's mother and he went with her to Christmas Mass. There, he acknowledged his sin and asked forgiveness from God and the community. Forty years later, on June 24, 1950, Maria was canonized at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Alessandro attended her canonization. His heart was converted, a miraculous fruit of Maria's life of forgiveness!

Have you experienced a deep hurt? Do you find it difficult to forgive? 

Jesus gave the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the forgiveness of sins. Go to confession and talk to the priest, who is Jesus, in Persona Christi. Tell him about the wound in your heart, your deep hurt, tell him you want to forgive and ask him to help you.

Saint Maria Goretti can help you forgive. Pray to her for the person who hurt you. When you pray in this way, God expands your heart with love and peace and He gives you a forgiving heart.

Official Prayer to Saint Maria Goretti
"Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen."

O my Jesus, You gave Saint Maria Goretti the crown of martyrdom; help us to be unafraid, to be faithful to Your teachings of fidelity and forgiveness with her courageous witness, and give us an increase in the virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.

Saint Maria Goretti, Little Mercy Saint, pray for us! 

God bless America and our Military

Mary, the Immaculate Conception, you are the Patroness of the United States of America. On this 4th of July, 2024, we give thanks to all our military who have given up their lives serving our country and we offer prayers for their families. 

From the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

We call upon your powerful intercession for the protection of all life. We pray that all life is cherished and abortion will be unthinkable in our beautiful country. We pray for the sanctity of marriage and the protection of freedoms of religion and conscience. We ask in the Name of your Beloved Son Jesus.

In our prayers through this ministry, we pray for families, for the sanctity of all life, for the dignity of every human person and for vocations to marriage, the priesthood and consecrated life, which are born and nurtured in families.

Prayer to the Guardian Angel of the United States 
Opus Sanctorum Angelorum

O glorious Guardian Angel of the United States, to whom God has entrusted the care of our beloved country, we honor you and thank you for the care and protection you have given to this great nation from the first moment of its inception.

O powerful Angel Guardian, whose watchful glance encompasses this vast land from shore to shore, we know that our sins have grieved our Lord and God and marred the beauty of our heritage. Lead us to a deep conversion, so that we may return to the embrace of His merciful love!

O Holy Angel, obtain for us through the intercession of the Queen of Heaven before the throne of God the graces we need to overcome the forces of evil so rampant in our beloved land. Help us, our God-given protector and friend, to respond wholeheartedly to the urgent pleas of the Mother of God at Fatima. Assist us to offer the prayers and sacrifices necessary to bring peace and goodness to our nation. We want to make you known and loved throughout our land, so that docile to your inspirations we may know, love and serve our Lord more faithfully and so become once more "one Nation under God." Amen.

Magnificat in America 
Cardinal Francis Spellman +1967 Archbishop of New York

America, Our America! Hold to the Vision of Mary, Mary Immaculate. Her glory fills the earth. She is our race. Its solitary boast. She, alone without sin, keeps the doom of wrath from thee, Who art defending Her glory. She, conqueror of evil, conquers evil for thee, Who art resisting evil.

America, Our America! Pray always to Mary, Mary Immaculate. She, the Mother to nations. She, the Mother of Christ, The Lord of all nations. She guards them and guides, subduing their hates, inspiring their spirits. She mourns for the prodigals, as children mourn, torn by their treasons.

America, Our America! Give thy heart to Mary, Mary Immaculate. Join Her prayer of praise. All Heaven attending, for our land that is free. Sing thou Her song of joy, all nations listening, giving thanks to God. Sing thou the song of souls, The Magnificat of Mary, The Magnificat of America.

Reflection: "Talitha koum." which means "Little girl, arise."

Jesus took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that, they were utterly astounded. Mark 5:41-42

In this Gospel, we encounter the Living God. Jairus, the synagogue official, threw himself at the feet of Jesus, pleading with Him to come to his home, that his daughter was at the point of death. Jairus asked Jesus to come and lay His hands on her that she may be made well. Jesus went off with him and the crowd followed, pressing on Him. When they arrived at the house, there was a commotion and people were weeping saying the child had died. 

Jesus said to Jairus, "Do not be afraid, just have faith." Jesus said the child had not died but was sleeping. The crown ridiculed Jesus. He went inside taking the child's parents with Peter, James and John. Jesus took the little girl by the hand and said, "Talitha koum" which means "Little girl, arise." Immediately, the little girl got up and walked around. Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

When you are faced with a difficult situation, something that seems impossible, turn to Jesus. All things are possible with Him. When you are sad, lonely, confused, afraid, overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, turn to Jesus. He will bring you out of the darkness into His wonderful Light,

The crowd ridiculed Jesus when He said the little girl was sleeping. They had no faith. At times, you will be ridiculed but Jesus says to you, "Do not be afraid, just have faith."

How can you turn to Jesus?

Spend time with Him. Go to a chapel or church. Sit before the tabernacle and pour out your heart to Him. Go to Eucharistic adoration where Jesus is Present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. He is waiting there for you. In His Presence, you will not be alone, afraid, overwhelmed. He will shine His wonderful Light upon you. He will pour out His healing grace into your heart. When you spend time in His Presence, He will transform you and heal you. 

O Lord, my God, I cried out to You for help, and You healed me. Psalm 30:3 

Come to Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Do not be afraid. Jesus is there waiting for you. Bring all your burdens to the Throne of Mercy and lay them at His feet. He will take you by the hand, embrace you, heal you and forgive you. Jesus will make you a new creation. He makes all things new.

Saint Irenaeus: The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience

Saint Irenaeus was a Doctor of the Church and one of the most important Church Fathers of the second century AD. Today we celebrate his feast day. 

Irenaeus was bishop of Lyons, in Southern France, though may have grown up in Smyrna, which is modern day Turkey. There, he had personal contact with Saint Polycarp, one of the Apostolic Fathers who knew the Apostle John. Before becoming bishop, Irenaeus was a pastor, a missionary and studied in Rome where he was influenced by Saint Justin Martyr.

His major work, Against Heresies, written around the year 185 AD, exposed the Gnostic cults of the day and strongly defended of Catholic Christianity. His writings were a heroic defense of the church and cost him his life. He received the martyr's crown around the year 200. In giving up his life for the Lord, He upheld the truth and always sought unity and peace.

Excerpt from Saint Irenaeus' classic work, Against Heresies. 
"The Lord, coming into his own creation in visible form, was sustained by his own creation which he himself sustains in being. His obedience on the tree of the cross reversed the disobedience at the tree in Eden; the good news of the truth announced by an angel to Mary, a virgin subject to a husband, undid the evil lie that seduced Eve, a virgin espoused to a husband."

The inspiration for the devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots came through these truths.

"The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith...:Death through Eve, life through Mary."  Catechism of the Catholic Church 494

Eve was tempted by a fallen angel, turned away from the Lord and sinned. Mary was visited by Saint Gabriel, the Archangel, and said yes to the Lord. Eve, by her disobedience, brought sin and death to the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, brought salvation and new life to all humanity.

O Mother Mary, the New Eve, the Sanctuary of God, the first Tabernacle of Jesus, pray for us.

Reflection: "Quiet! Be still!"

Jesus was in the boat with the disciples when a violent storm rose up. The boat was filling up with water and Jesus was asleep. The disciples were terrified and woke Him up.

Have you ever felt that everything in your life was crashing in all around you like being in boat in the midst of a storm?

Jesus woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

Ponder the words, "The wind ceased and there was a great calm." The disciples were in awe and wondered who Jesus is that even the wind and the sea obey Him. 

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt frightened, alone, terrified and without hope?  

Out of the depths, I call to You, Lord; Lord, hear my cry! May Your ears be attentive to my cry for 

mercy! Psalm 130:1-2

When storms arise in your life, call upon Jesus and tell Him what you are afraid of. Out of the depths of your heart, cry out to Him. Rebuke your fears. Allow Jesus to touch you and heal you. Trust in Jesus and He will bring a great calm upon you. Jesus will give you hope.

Sit with Jesus and recall that situation in your life. As the memories come into your mind, notice the feelings that rise up in you and speak to Him about what you are experiencing. Cry out to Him and express your fear and hopelessness.

Cast your care upon the Lord who will give you support.  Psalm 55:23

Jesus is your friend and He will calm you. He wants to be with you intimately. Sit in His Presence and open your heart to Him. Every time you have an encounter with Jesus, you are changed. He is calling you to come to Him...

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Jesus is your hope, your strength and your comforter.