The Holy Innocents

Beloved, now this is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

Today is the Feast Day of the Holy Innocents, the patron saints of babies. These innocent little children were the first martyrs for Jesus Christ. We remember the 20 children and 6 adults who were murdered in the massacre in Newtown, CT four years ago. These kindergarten children were the faces of goodness and light. Jesus came to us as a vulnerable little baby like these little ones. Today, let us pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for their families. 

Matthew 2:12-18
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him." Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son." When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: "A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more." Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.” They found Jesus, offered him their gifts and, warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt.

Herod became furious and ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under. The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children...”Rachel was the wife of Jacob. She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity.

They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. Revelation 14:4



We remember the Holy Innocents today. We pray for all the babies lost in our time to the horror of abortion and we pray for their families. The greatest treasure God put on the earth is a baby, destined for eternity and graced by the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. Lord, You are the Giver of life. We pray that ALL LIFE will be protected, in Your Holy Name, through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn.

Reflection: An angel with Down Syndrome at the Nativity

Today is the Feast Day of the Holy Family. As we ponder the Nativity, let us gaze at the Baby Jesus, the Light of the World. He came to us as a little baby. Let us enter the scene. Mary and Joseph are watching over the newborn King with awe and wonder. They beckon you to come. As you draw close to the Holy Family, the love of Jesus comes pouring into your heart. Kneel before Him and adore Him. As you gaze at the Baby Jesus, He gazes at you with great love.

Our dear prayer partner Liz sent this beautiful image of the Nativity scene. In this painting circa 1515, art historians and doctors say it depicts a child with Down Syndrome as the angel nearest to Mary, possibly the child of the person who commissioned the painting.  The painting is called "Adoration of the Christ Child" by Jan Joest of Kalkar in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The John 10:10 Prayer Ministry began through all the prayers offered for a beautiful baby Lily Grace with Down Syndrome. She is now a happy, healthy nine year old. She is a little angel who spreads love to everyone she meets.  She is an encourager, a consoler and a comforter. These are her gifts from God. Not long ago, when picking her up after school, a girl from her class said, "Bye, Lily." Lily looked at her and said, "Don't worry. Tomorrow will be a better day." I asked her what was wrong and Lily said the little girl had a tricky day. Lily was encouraging her classmate that tomorrow will be better. When Lily is having difficulty with something, her parents tell her she is having a tricky time and it always passes. On another day, Lily's little six year old sister Norah said incredulously, "My friend Patricia doesn't know what Down Syndrome is!" Norah said with confidence, "I told Patricia that people who have Down Syndrome are just like everyone else. Sometimes it takes them a little longer to learn; sometimes it can be a little tricky, but they can learn, just like we can." These two little sisters, Lily and Norah, are ambassadors of love, who teach us all how to love.

O Holy Family, as we gaze at you, we give you our hearts. Joseph and Mary, help us to always keep our eyes fixed on the Baby. Jesus. let us look at the angels surrounding You, especially the little angel with Down Syndrome. Let us bow in adoration with the love and pure heart of this special little angel.  

O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

For unto us a child is born. Isaiah 9:6

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.  Psalm 96:2

Luke 2:1-7 "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Luke 8-14 "Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Heavenly Father, we contemplate and gaze upon the newborn Baby Jesus, all holy, full of innocence, the Son of God.  Sweet Baby Jesus, we rejoice on this day of Your birth. Come into our hearts with Your peace and love. We entrust to You all the names we receive through this prayer ministry and we ask Our Lady of the Rosary to always be Our Comforter and Our Most Powerful Intercessor.  O Come O Come Emmanuel!

Reflection: All I want for Christmas...

A message below was written by a priest of what he would like for Christmas.  He would like ALL of his flock to come home.  As John 10:10 prayer partners, we pray for so many people to come home to the Lord, the people we receive prayer intentions for and the people who are most dear to us.  Today and tomorrow, many people will come to Christmas Mass who never practice their faith any other time.  Let us pray for all those who come and for all who stay away.  Let us ask the Baby Jesus to reach out His little hands and touch their hearts that they will know, without a doubt, how much He loves them.  Jesus performs miracles in our midst.  As we gaze at the Baby Jesus in the creche, let us place all the desires of our hearts in his little hands, trusting that He will hear and answer our prayers during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

By Fr. Bill Peckman

Every year, when I was a kid, my siblings and I would ask mom and dad what they wanted for Christmas. They always said the same thing: we want you kids to quit fighting and get along. It was always something that couldn't be conveniently wrapped and placed under a tree. Truth be told, aren't those always the best gifts?

So, in that spirit, here's what I would like for Christmas: For all my flock home. All of them. The good and the bad. Those who makes mistakes, even big ones. I want more than just their presence in a pew, though. I want them to believe. I want them to desire the forgiveness and mercy of God offered through Confession. I want them to no longer feel compelled to carry the weight and burden of their sins when we have such a conduit of grace to give them respite.

I want them to believe that God does make Himself present in our lives. That He does make Himself truly present in the Eucharist. I want them to understand that God so wants to make Himself present in our lives, that He comes through the Blessed Sacrament. I want them to understand this and believe it so profoundly, that they would no more willingly miss Mass than they would slice off an appendage.

I want my flock to thirst for knowledge about their faith. I want them to avail themselves of the opportunities we offer. I want them to believe and Love Jesus Christ. I want them to be excited witnesses to His goodness. I want them to engage in faith and prayer. I want them to be agents of God's mercy in all things to all people.

I want all of this because I want my entire flock, my family, and friends to be in heaven. I know that heaven isn't a guarantee. I know that we make the choice for eternal relationship with God by how we engage in that relationship with Him AND His people here and now. I know it comes from not compromising with sin.

O Holy Family, pray for us and for all those who are far from you and draw them into the little stable in Bethlehem where the Light of the World will shine upon them. Jesus we trust in You.

The Christmas crib

The cherished tradition of the Christmas crib and the Nativity scene was begun by Saint Francis of Assisi. On Christmas Eve in 1223, Saint Francis longed to see, with his own eyes, the circumstances of Jesus' coming to Bethlehem, that he arranged to have the scene recreated in a cave at Greccio, using live people and animals. During the solemnities of the Mass being offered there, a little child was seen lying in the manger. From that celebration began the custom of the Christmas crib or crèche. The manger helps us to contemplate the mystery of God's love who came as a little baby and revealed Himself in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem cave. Saint Francis of Assisi was so overwhelmed by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it again in Greccio with the living manger, which led to our tradition today.

The crib helps us understand the secret of the true Christmas because it speaks of humility, poverty and the merciful goodness of Christ,

Though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor.  2 Corinthians 8:9

Christmas brings joy and peace to those who accept the words of the angel, as the shepherds did:

And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.  Luke 2:12

Place your Nativity scene under your Christmas tree as a visible reminder of that Holy Night when our Savior was born. May we always see the the Holy Family, Mary and Joseph and the little Babe of Bethlehem, who came to save us from sin. May we always remember that the wood of the manger that held Him so securely would one day give way to the wood of the Cross. May we too embrace Jesus with all of our love as did Saint Francis.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us and all the names we receive through this ministry.

4th Sunday of Advent

Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Luke 1:38

Today is the 4th Week of Advent. The coming of the Lord is near. Let us ask Mary to prepare our hearts to receive the Baby Jesus.

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel.  Isaiah 7:14

A Virgin, a pure and humble heart, dedicated totally to loving God, completely available and generously disposed to His designs, was the one to cooperate, with her fiat, in the fulfillment of the plan of salvation. In the Virgin’s undivided, prayerful, generous and pure human heart a miraculous conception took place. A love so pure, so total, and so unconditional became so powerfully life-giving. The pure, immaculate love of a human heart was the soil, the perfect soil, to bear the child and to be the sign of the Presence of God among men. This is the great sign promised by Isaiah: love, pure, unconditional love is so powerful that it gives life.  "Only love creates because love is the force, the powerful force, that calls forth life."  Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

O Mary, the Mighty One has done great things for you and Holy is His Name. Help us, Mother Mary, to prepare our hearts for the Baby Jesus. Help us to be a sign of love to those we meet. We entrust all the names we receive through this ministry to you.

Reflection: Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid...Zechariah, do not be afraid...

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and also to Zechariah in a dream. To each one of them, the angel said, "Do not be afraid." Let us ask the Lord to reveal to us through Joseph and Zechariah how to be not afraid.

Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this Child has been conceived in her. She will bear a Son and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:20-21

Meditation:

Sit in a quiet place and ponder the angel's message to Joseph. Enter into the scene. Joseph was a righteous man. Imagine how he felt when he found out that Mary, his betrothed, was with child. He did not want to expose Mary but decided he would divorce her quietly. Then, in his dream, the angel of the Lord told him Mary's child was conceived  by the Holy Spirit. Joseph responded with complete trust. When he awoke from his dream, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary into his home. As you sit quietly, ponder Joseph's trust and ask him to help you trust the way he did. When the angel appeared in his dream, calling Joseph, by name, the angel's first words were, "Do not be afraid." When you are faced with a situation that you do not understand, ask Joseph to be with you. Ask him to help you trust in the Lord the way he did.

Now let us ponder the angel's message to Zechariah and enter into the scene. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old and never had a child. Imagine how he felt when the angel of the Lord told him his wife would bear him a son. Zechariah's response was fear and lack of trust. Ask the Lord to show you the ways you have responded with fear and lack of trust.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled at what he saw and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John. Luke 1:11-13

Then how shall I know this for I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years and the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel who stand before God." I was sent to speak to you and to announce this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their proper time. Luke 1:18-20

It may seem as though Zechariah was being punished because of his fear and lack of trust but it was actually a grace that Zachariah was made speechless. We have to be quiet to hear the Lord. God spoke to Zechariah in the silence. Months later, when Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Zechariah wrote on a tablet, "John is his name." 

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed and he spoke blessing God.  Luke 1:64

God blessed Zechariah by making him silent so he could increase his faith and trust in Him. Let us call upon Joseph and Zechariah to help us when we are afraid and always remember that God is with us. God is with us when we respond in trust and He is with us when we respond in fear. He meets us wherever we are.

The Mighty One has done great things for me and Holy is His Name. Luke 1:49

The "O Antiphons" Of Advent

During these days of the season of Advent, we "long for" the coming of the birth of Jesus.

The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah. From www,usccb.org

December 17

O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18

O Leader of the House of Israel,
giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
come to rescue us with your mighty power!

December 19

O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

December 20

O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21

O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.

December 22

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

December 23

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!

Reflection: Jesus is the Light of the World...

I am the Lord, there is no other; I form the light and create the darkness. Isaiah 45:6-7

Jesus is the Light of the World. He shines light into the darkness.

Imagine the face of a little child when the Christmas lights are turned on. There is awe and wonder gazing at the lights...the twinklings, the colors and the shapes of Christmas!

Come now and enter into the season of Advent with the expectant hope of a little child. Ask the Baby Jesus to come into your heart and to help you see with new eyes. Ask Him to open your ears so you can hear Him speak. He wants to speak words of love, healing, comfort and peace to you. Ask Him to come and help you to know Him in a new way this Christmas season. The Baby Jesus comes for you. Open your heart now and let Him in.

I, the Lord, do all these things. Let justice descend O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain, let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the Lord have created this!  Isaiah 45:7-8 

The Baby Jesus is gazing upon you. He is shining His Light into your heart. He is showering you with dew from above, the dew of grace is gently falling on you. He is holding you safely in His tender embrace.

Turn to Me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God, there is no other!  Isaiah 45:22

Reflection: We are Sandy Hook. We choose love.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted. Psalm 34:18

Today, on the third anniversary, we remember the victims of the Newtown Connecticut school tragedy, twenty children and six educators and their families, friends and loved ones.  We pray for the community, for the priests of Saint Rose of Lima Parish and for ministers and rabbis who guide and console all the brokenhearted. Jesus is the Divine Healer of hearts. May Mother Mary wrap her mantle around all those who are grieving and comfort their broken hearts and draw them into the Sacred Heart of Jesus where they will find healing, hope, comfort and rest.

There is a simple sign in Newtown:

We are Sandy Hook. We choose love.

In our prayers, let us choose Love and Mercy itself and pray for peace in our world, in our families and in our hearts. 

Love and truth will meet. justice and peace will kiss.  Psalm 85:11

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself.  Prayer at the end of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, we pray for healing and hope for the community in Newtown Connecticut. We implore the intercession of Father Patrick Peyton CSC, the Rosary Priest.  His powerful messages: 

A world at prayer is a world at peace.

A family that prays together stays together.

May the love of Jesus and Mary be poured into the hearts of those who mourn.  Jesus we trust in You.

Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children and immerse them in My  Mercy. Sixth day of the Novena of Divine Mercy

Reflection: Rejoice...

Rejoice in the Lord always; I shall say it again, rejoice. Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 

Today let us ponder the word JOY, a gift that comes in knowing the Presence of God. On this third Sunday of Advent, we pause and rejoice because we know that the Lord is near. We are coming close to the day of the birth of our Savior. Ask Mary how to teach you how to love Jesus the way she does. Ask her to give you the Joy of knowing Jesus in your heart.

Diary of Saint Faustina 40 Most Holy Virgin Mary has taught me how to love God interiorly and also how to carry out His Holy Will in all things. O Mary, you are joy, because through you, God descended to earth and into my heart.

Jesus is our Joy.

Jesus 
Open 
Yes

Today let us take time to gaze at the Baby Jesus. Sit with Him and ponder His precious Face. He came as a baby, pure, vulnerable and little. He came to touch our hearts. Open your heart now and invite the Baby Jesus in. His arms are outstretched to you. Say Yes to the Baby Jesus, reach out and touch His little hands and hold Him close to your heart. He has something special to give you for Christmas. As you gaze at Him, let Him love you.

What will you give the Baby Jesus for Christmas? Will you give Him your heart?

Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart, prepare Him room. And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

Reflection: Our Lady of Guadalupe...

Patroness of the Unborn and the Americas  Today is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A poor Indian Juan Diego was a 57 year old widower who lived in a small village near Mexico City. On Saturday morning December 9, 1531, he was on his way to attend Mass in honor of Our Lady. He was walking by a hill called Tepeyac when he heard beautiful music like the warbling of birds. A radiant cloud appeared and within it a young Native American maiden dressed like an Aztec princess. The lady spoke to him in his own language and sent him to the bishop of Mexico, a Franciscan named Juan de Zumarraga. The bishop was to build a chapel in the place where the lady appeared.

This picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe was taken at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. This shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe is a beautiful place to remember a child who was lost. It is a place of healing, remembrance and hope.  Shrine of the Holy Innocents

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, let us call upon Our Lady of Guadalupe, our Mother of Mercy, to intercede powerfully for all our needs,  Let us come to her as little children, praying, in confident trust, that Jesus will heal us and all those we pray for.

Meditation: Close your eyes and imagine Mary looking at you and saying the words she spoke to Juan Diego, Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the fountain of your joy?  Allow the graces to flow over you as Mary speaks words of love into your heart. Imagine Mary holding you under her shadow and protection.  Be still and let Mary be your loving mother. Give her your fears and anxieties, all your troubles and pain. Allow Mary to keep you under the fold of her mantle and held in her embrace.

Mary to Juan Diego: “My dearest son, I am the eternal Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God, Author of Life, Creator of all and Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth...and it is my desire that a church be built here in this place for me, where, as your most merciful Mother and that of all your people, I may show my loving clemency and the compassion that I bear to the Indians, and to those who love and seek me.”

The bishop told Juan Diego to have the lady give him a sign. About this same time Juan Diego’s uncle became seriously ill. Poor Diego was to try to avoid the lady. The lady found Diego and assured him that his uncle would recover and she provided roses for Juan to carry to the bishop in his cape or tilma. Juan Diego told his story to the Spanish bishop, who instructed him to return and ask the Lady for a miraculous sign to prove her claim. The Virgin told Juan Diego to gather some flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill. It was winter and no flowers bloomed, but on the hilltop Diego found flowers of every sort, and the Virgin herself arranged them in his tilma, or peasant cloak. When Juan Diego opened his tilma in the bishop’s presence, the roses fell to the ground and the bishop sank to his knees. On Juan Diego’s tilma appeared an image of Mary miraculously imprinted exactly as she had appeared at the hill of Tepeyac. It was December 12, 1531.

The Image on the Tilma
The imprint of Mary on the tilma is striking, and the symbolism was primarily directed to Juan Diego and the Aztecs. Mary appears as a beautiful young Indian maiden with a look of love, compassion, and humility, her hands folded in prayer in reference to the Almighty God. Her rose dress, adorned with a jasmine flower, eight petal flowers, and nine heart flowers symbolic to the Aztec culture, is that of an Aztec princess. Her blue mantle symbolized the royalty of the gods, and the blue color symbolized life and unity. The stars on the mantle signified the beginning of a new civilization. La Morenita appeared on the day of the winter solstice, considered the day of the sun's birth; the Virgin's mantle accurately represents the 1531 winter solstice! Mary stands in front of and hides the sun, but the rays of the sun still appear around her, signifying she is greater than the sun god, the greatest of the native divinities, but the rays of the sun still bring light. Twelve rays of the sun surround her face and head. She stands on the moon, supported by an angel with wings like an eagle: to the Aztec, this indicated her superiority to the moon god, the god of night, and her divine, regal nature. Most important are the black maternity band, a jasmine flower, and a cross that are present in the image. Mary wore a black maternity band, signifying she was with child. At the center of the picture, overlying her womb, is a jasmine flower in the shape of an Indian cross, which is the sign of the Divine and the center of the cosmic order to the Aztec. This symbol indicated that the baby Mary carried within her, Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, is Divine and the new center of the universe. On the brooch around her neck was a black Christian cross, indicating she is both a bearer and follower of Christ, the Son of God, our Savior, who died on the Cross to save mankind. The image signified Mary bringing her Son Christ to the New World through one of their own.

Our Lady's apparition was an event of great significance for Native Americans. Nine million Indians became Catholic in a very short time. Our Lady of Guadalupe shows us God's love for the poor and for the unborn that stems from the Gospel itself.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, we entrust all the names we receive through this prayer ministry to you, our most loving and merciful Mother.

Feast Day of Saint Juan Diego

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Juan Diego.  He deeply loved the Holy Eucharist.  By special permission of the Bishop, he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual occurrence during those times. Saint Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith nourished by catechesis and pictured him as a model of humility for all of us.

Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke these words to Juan Diego. She speaks these words to us.

Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the fountain of your joy? Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in the cradle of my arms?

Prayer to Saint Juan Diego
You who were chosen by Our Lady of Guadalupe as an instrument to show your people and the world that the way of Christianity is one of love, compassion, understanding, values, sacrifices, repentance of our sins, appreciation and respect for God’s creation, and most of all one of humility and obedience; You whom we know is now in the Kingdom of the Lord and close to our Mother; Be our angel and protect us, stay with us as we struggle in this modern life often not knowing where to set our priorities; Help us to pray to our God to obtain the gifts of the Holy Spirit and use them for the good of humanity and the good of our Church, through the Heart of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Heart of Jesus. Amen

Saint Juan Diego, pray for us, for all the little ones and families for whom we pray.

The Jubilee Year of Mercy begins today on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception...

 

Today is the first Day of the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis.

OPEN WIDE THE DOORS OF MERCY

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.  From the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Let us perform Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy and pray the Novena and Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day especially for the sick and dying.

You are all beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish in you. Song of Solomon 4:7

Today is the Feast Day of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On this day, we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was conceived without sin. The Immaculate Conception means that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from Original Sin from the very moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne. We celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8; nine months before is December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Today is the Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America. May Our Lady bless our country and protect and guide us. Please pray for the protection and sanctity of all Life, especially for life in the womb, for the restoration of the sanctity of Marriage and for the protection of Religious Freedom in our beloved country.

Just as Christ has been called the "new Adam," the Church Fathers, especially Saint Justin in 150AD and Saint Irenaeus 180AD, saw Mary as the "new Eve," who humbly obeyed God, even though Eve disobeyed. The Church Fathers also called Mary the "new ark of the covenant" and theotokos, God-bearer. It is from these titles that the doctrine of Mary's Immaculate Conception and sinlessness unfolded. Saint Ephrem, the Syrian, in 373AD spoke of Mary as without stain or blemish, calling her "all pure, all immaculate, all stainless, all undefiled, all incorrupt, all inviolate." Saint Augustine left open the possibility of Mary's sinlessness, even using language similar to the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Heavenly Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by His death and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in Your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

O Mary, the Immaculate Conception, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the sake of Your Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Jesus I trust in You.

Reflection: Prepare the way of the Lord...

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God.  Luke 3:4

In the wilderness, John the Baptist proclaimed the saving Presence of God.  After the Baptism of the Lord, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit rested upon Him in the form of a dove. The voice of the Father was heard: This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him.  God came to a deserted place. He calls us into a deserted place, into the silence, where we can hear Him. 

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortable unto her.  Hosea 2:14  

It is the second week of Advent, a time of waiting and a time of preparing. As we await the coming of the birth of Jesus, let us ask Him to come into our hearts. Find a place to be quiet and sit with the Lord. Stop into a chapel or church. Place yourself in His Presence and just be. When you quiet your mind and heart, He will speak to you in the silence.

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

Be still and trust in God. You are His beloved child. You are never alone, never unaided, never forgotten. God will come when you call Him. Be still. When the noise and storms of the world are all around you, come into the quiet Presence of the Lord and the storms will not come within you. Cast off worries and fears that can block you from feeling God's Presence. When you are in pain or anguish, God will come and bind your broken heart. Be still. Pray and ponder God's Word, rest, take a walk, slow down and free your mind and heart so God can dwell within you. 

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

Reflection: Long lay the world in sin and error pining...

Today we are seeing so much violence, shootings, disregard for life. It can seem like the darkness is overwhelming.  

Be not afraid... 

As we prepare our hearts and await the birth of the Baby Jesus, do not be discouraged or overcome by the darkness. Jesus comes to dispel the darkness with His wonderful light. On that Holy Night, our dear Savior came and there was light.

During this beautiful season, listen closely to the words of Christmas songs.

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining; it is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

When we hear about the violence and tragedies all around the world, remember that it is sin and error that brings the darkness...in the world and in our hearts...

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

We know our worth when we have a personal encounter with Jesus. When you are in sin and error, come to Jesus in Confession.  When you have an encounter with Him in the beautiful Sacrament  of Reconciliation, your soul will feel its worth.

'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

If you have not been to confession in a while, invite Our Lady to come with you. She will help you as your beautiful Mother. Be not afraid. The priest will help you, if you do not remember what to do. Run to Jesus and pour out your heart to Him. Bring Him your sin, miseries, weariness, pain and sufferings. You will receive forgiveness, mercy, healing, grace and peace. He will pour His Light and Love upon you.  

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Open your heart and let Jesus shine His Light and healing Love upon you. He is waiting for you. Morning has broken... Healing and hope.. Come...

Fall on your knees and hear the angel voices.  O night Divine, O night when Christ was born.  O night Divine, O night, O night Divine.

Saint Andrew, Apostle and Martyr

Today is the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle. As Our Blessed Mother Mary always leads us to Jesus, Saint Andrew brought others to Jesus. Andrew told his brother Simon: We have found the Messiah, the Christ; and he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus called Andrew and his brother Simon Peter, He said to them,  

Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 

They immediately dropped their fishing nets and followed him. Let us say Yes to Jesus the way Andrew, Simon and Our Blessed Mother Mary did. Let us call on their intercession in our need.

A novena is normally a nine day prayer, the term is sometimes used for any prayer that is repeated over a series of days. This prayer is often called the "Christmas Novena" or the "Christmas Anticipation Prayer" because it is prayed 15 times every day from the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle until Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent is the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saint Andrew.

The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. You can say the prayer all 15 times, all at once; or divide up the recitation as necessary, perhaps five times at each meal. Prayed as a family, the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena is a very good way to help focus the attention of your children on the Advent season.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Saint Andrew, you gave your life to follow Jesus. Help us offer our lives to follow Him in all we do and in all we say. Saint Andrew, pray for us.

Reflection: We begin the season of Advent...

Today is the First Sunday of Advent. Over these special weeks before Christmas, we gather and give thanks. We pray and sing together, inviting the Lord into our lives, our homes, the Church and into the world which God loves so much that He sent His only Beloved Son. This Advent season has the significance of the opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 8th, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. Pope Francis will open the Holy Doors in Saint Peter's and they will remain open for the entire Year of Mercy. Let us open our hearts and walk through the Holy Doors asking God to pour out His mercy and grace upon us. 

The best way to prepare for Advent is to spend the four weeks of Advent with Mary, reflecting on how she pondered God's Word. Mary was still. She invites us to be still and to listen as God speaks to us during this beautiful season of Advent, as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. 

How can we prepare our hearts for the coming of the baby Jesus on Christmas Day? Ask Our Lady to accompany us. She is our most loving Mother and she always leads us to her Beloved Son. Jesus heals our hearts and shines His light upon us. Spend time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. It is there, in the silence, that Jesus will speak to your heart.  The heart of the message of Advent is to bring light into a world of darkness. The Advent candles symbolize Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. It is He who can dispel the darkness and bring hope.  The Lord is always coming to those who seek Him. Let us seek Him through the eyes and heart of Mary.

The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God.  It lives almost always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  God works in a silent soul without hindrance.  In order to hear the voice of God, one has to have silence in one's soul and to keep silence; not a gloomy silence but an interior silence; that is to say, recollection in God. Diary of Saint Faustina 198, 477, 118

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortable unto her. Hosea 2:14  

In the wilderness, John the Baptist proclaimed the saving Presence of God. After the Baptism of the Lord, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit rested upon Him in the form of a dove. The voice of the Father was heard: This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him. God came to a deserted place. He calls us into a deserted place, into the silence, where we can hear Him. 

Open the door of your heart and come away and rest awhile...

Reflection: In Thanksgiving for all the blessings from the Lord...

A Mass will be offered for you, John 10:10 Prayer Partners, and for your intentions. We give thanks for all your prayers for the babies, little ones and families. We never know how our prayers are used.  The Lord takes our prayers and little offerings and places them where they are needed. The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all His benefits, for all He has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification.  Eucharist means, first of all, "thanksgiving."

We gather around the table of the Lord at the altar during Mass. Jesus is alive in the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.  During the Mass, heaven and earth meet.  The Mass is the most perfect prayer.  When you go to Mass, try to arrive early, read the Mass readings and meditate on them. If you can, stay after Mass is over and sit quietly with the Lord.  At every Mass, He will strengthen you, comfort you and heal you.

When you are not able to go to Mass or anytime during the day, you can make a prayer of Spiritual Communion.  It cannot replace receiving the Eucharist but it is a very real extension of its fruits.  The more the prayer of Spiritual Communion becomes a habit, the more you unite yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

During the Offertory, think about what you want to bring to the Lord at that Mass.  When the priest calls down the Holy Spirit over the bread and wine, this is when the miracle happens.  Through the words of the priest, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus.  At the moment of the Consecration, heaven and earth meet.  Mary is present, standing with her beloved priest and the altar is surrounded by angels.  At that moment, tell the Lord your heart’s desire, tell him what you are offering to Him, tell Him what you need and thank Him for all He has done for you.  When you receive Jesus in the Eucharist, speak to Him.  He will transform you and fill you with unimaginable graces.

Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily.  Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all He has done!  Sirach 39:13-14

O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Reflection: The fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the wall of the king's palace...

The writing is on the wall.

Have you ever wondered where this expression comes from? It comes from today's First Reading from Chapter 5 of the Book of the Prophet Daniel. King Belshazzar held a great banquet. He used the gold and silver vessels which his father had taken from the house of God. The king, his lords, his wives and entertainers were drinking wine from the vessels and praising their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. The banquet was an orgy.

"Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the the wall of the king's palace." Daniel 5:5

My pastor spoke of this scene at Mass this morning. When things are unraveling and spinning out of control, as we see in our world today in so many ways, God will say, "Enough!"

God will intervene.

In the Book of Daniel, the human hand, writing on the wall was God. The king was terrified when he saw the hand. He knew about the prophet Daniel and promised him many things if he would interpret the words the hand wrote. Daniel told the king he did not want his gifts but he would interpret the writing.

MENE God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
TEKEL You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
PERES Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Daniel said to the king: "You rebelled against the Lord in heaven...But the God in whose hand is your very breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down." Daniel 5:23

We see so much unraveling in our world...terrorism, hatred, violence, war, assaults on the family and on marriage and the sacred gift of life.

Be not afraid. God will intervene. He simply wants us to trust in Him, to be patient, to persevere in prayer and spread His love through good works and deeds of mercy.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

Don't depend on yourself. Cry out to God. Run from evil. Receive the Eucharist daily or as often as you can. Run to the Sacrament of Reconciliation where you will receive Mercy and healing. Stop into an adoration chapel or commit to a regular hour of Eucharistic Adoration, a special date between you and Jesus. Entrust yourself to Our Lady. Put God first in your life. Check yourself by God's Word. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Rest in God's love.

Reflection: Solemnity of Christ the King

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Christ, King of the Universe.  This Sunday provides a bridge to the new Church Year that begins next Sunday on the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting in hope and expectation, a time of longing for the coming of the Kingdom of God amid the darkness of a sinful world. It is through the Virgin Mary that we receive Christ the King into our hearts. She walked with Jesus and always brings us to Him. Mary is the guardian of our life, hidden in Christ. It is through Our Mother Mary's love that we have the knowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Meditation:  
Is Jesus the King of your heart?  Do you have a picture of Him in a prominent place in your home? He longs for you. Invite Him into your heart today. Ask Mary to help you open your heart to receive Jesus. She will bring you to Jesus and she will bring Jesus to you. Ask Mary to accompany you now. Come to Jesus today and ask Him to help you open your heart for Him to dwell within you. 

Ask Jesus to help you prepare your heart for the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy and ask Our Lady to help you to go to confession regularly, monthly or weekly; forgive those who have hurt you; attend Mass daily or more often than once a week; read the daily Mass readings before you go to Mass; go to Eucharistic Adoration at a regular time every week, a sacred date for you and Jesus; perform a work of mercy every day; venerate the Image of Divine Mercy; spread the message of Divine Mercy with family, friends, coworkers and strangers; read the Scriptures often; pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily; pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory; pray the Stations of the Cross; make a pilgrimage to a Holy Shrine. 

“In that first ‘fusion’ with Jesus in Holy Communion, it was my Heavenly Mother again who accompanied me to the altar for it was she herself who placed her Jesus into my soul.”  Saint Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church

"The Virgin Mary, being obedient to His Word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God."  Saint Irenaeus, Father of the Church

"I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy."  Our Lady to Saint Faustina

The good thief, hanging next to Jesus on the cross said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom." Jesus replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:42-43

“King” was one of the earliest titles given to the Son of God. The title does not refer to a status of an earthly king, which many of the Jews had been expecting; someone to overthrow the Roman rule and be an earthly king of the Israel. Rather He came to be the spiritual king; His kingdom is in heaven, not confined to the earth alone. It is an eternal Kingdom of light and truth, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace.  The King is love.

And this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  1 Timothy 6:15

Jesus Christ, King of Divine Majesty, have mercy on us. Remember us when You come into Your Kingdom. Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us

The Presentation of Mary

The Magnificat
The Canticle of Mary

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and Holy is his Name. Luke 1:46-49

In accordance with Jewish custom Mary's parents, Anne and Joachim, named her eight days after her birth, and were inspired to call her Mary. Let us pray the words of Saint Bernard who invites us to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did:

Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary. In danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart. If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination.

The meanings ascribed to Mary's name by the early Christian writers and perpetuated by the Greek Fathers. "Bitter Sea," "Myrrh of the Sea," "The Light Giver," "The Enlightened One," "Lady," "Seal of the Lord," and "Mother of the Lord" are the principal interpretations. From the time of Saint Jerome until the 16th century, preferred interpretations of Mary's name in the West were "Lady," "Bitter Sea," "The Light Giver," and especially "Star of the Sea." Stella Maris was by far the favored interpretation. The Hebrew name of Mary, Miryãm, (in Latin Domina) means lady or sovereign; this Mary is in virtue of her Son's sovereign authority as Lord of the World. We call Mary our Lady as we call Jesus our Lord, and when we pronounce her name we affirm her power, implore her aid and place ourselves under her protection.

Saint Ephrem said, "that the name of Mary is the key of the gates of heaven," in the hands of those who devoutly invoke it.

O Mary, on this Feast Day of your Presentation, we call upon your Most Holy Name and entrust our prayers to you, our Loving Mother.

Reflection: Jesus wept...

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and He wept over it, saying "If this day, you only knew what makes for peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you, when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." Luke 19:41-44

Today we see terror springing up all around the world. We must not be afraid. Overcome evil with good. Let us pray the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the undoing of ISIS and all groups who promote terror, death and persecution of Christians.

Jesus is weeping...

Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the shepherd children and told them to pray the rosary daily for peace.  Let us pray for peace in the world, in our families and in our hearts. Let us entrust our lives and our families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are our refuge and our shield.

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.

Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy. Diary of Saint Faustina 300

Now is the time of Mercy. Jesus longs for you. Come to the Mercy of God through the Sacraments. Come to Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. Come away and rest awhile. He will comfort, console and heal you. Come...

Reflection: Seek the Lord...

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake their way, and sinners their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord and find mercy; to our God who is generous in forgiving. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, oracle of the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:6-9

Our Blessed Virgin Mary offered her life and gave her Fiat through her obedience and humble service to God. She surrendered to His Will. In heaven, she leads a song of eternal praise, like incense raising up to God.

The Lord is near. Cry out to Him in prayer. Seek His Face. Turn to Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Run to Confession. Call upon Mary, Mother of Mercy, to help you. Jesus is there, waiting for you. Come to the fountain of mercy and grace. He will forgive, heal and strengthen you. Come with your pain, sufferings and all your misery. Lay it all down before the Lord. Come and rest upon His Sacred Heart where the Blood and Water gushes forth from the Fount of Mercy.

Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His Face continually. Psalm 105:4

O Jesus, teach us to know Your ways and raise our thoughts to Your thoughts; help us to seek You and we will find You. O Mary, Mother of Mercy, help us to seek His Face and turn to Him where we will find mercy and healing. 

In honor of our veterans...

America, our country is truly blessed; God, through the powerful intercession of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, has shed His grace on America. May He continue to do so from sea to shining sea! Let us reflect and remember all those who have served our country, past and present.

"You gave for peace with courage that families may be free so children could grow strong and safe they'd ever be.  In giving for the sake of peace, you may have suffered loss. Your body may still show its wounds from taking up the cause.  May remembrance of your time away, your sacrifice for peace spur us on to strive more strongly for freedom, that there'll be release.  From causes that sent some away to fight that we may freely live with gratefulness we thank you, Veterans, for all you gave and give!" Prayer by Susan Helene Kramer



Blessed Mother Mary, protect our veterans and their families, especially their children. Bring comfort and peace to those who have lost loved ones defending our country. We are honored to have you, Mary, as the Patroness of America because you are the most powerful intercessor.

By a decree from the First Council of Baltimore, Mary in her Immaculate Conception, was elected as our principal Patron. A patron is one who has been assigned, or in this case, chosen by election, as a special intercessor before God.

Saint Louis de Montfort, in his renowned manuscript True Devotion to Mary, boldly suggested that Christ is weak in front of His Mother. It’s as if He can’t say “No” to her! The Catechism of the Catholic Church (969) states that the Blessed Virgin is invoked under the title Mediatrix of all grace. While no creature measures up to the one and only Redeemer, we profess that Mary cooperates in a unique way in her Son’s redemptive mission. She knows what is best for her children and so intercedes for us before the very source of all grace, Jesus Christ.

In tribute to a special Vietnam veteran, Poppy, grandfather of Lily Grace and Norah.

Our Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, gives us five weapons to defeat satan...

Just as God gave David five stones with which to defeat Goliath, Our Lady, Queen of Peace, gives us five stones or weapons we can use to defeat satan.

Daily Prayer and the Rosary
Message of June 12, 1986 “Dear children! Today I call you to begin to pray the Rosary with a living faith. That way I will be able to help you. You, dear children, wish to obtain graces, but you are not praying. I am not able to help you because you do not want to get started. Dear children, I am calling you to pray the Rosary and that your Rosary be an obligation which you shall fulfill with joy. That way you shall understand the reason I am with you this long. I desire to teach you to pray. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Fasting on Wednesday and Fridays
Message of July 21, 1982 “The best fast is on bread and water. Through fasting and prayer one can stop wars, one can suspend the natural laws of nature. Works of charity cannot replace fasting …Everyone except the sick, has to fast.”

Daily Reading of the Bible
Message of October 18, 1984 “Dear children! Today I call on you to read the Bible every day in your homes and let it be in a visible place so as always to encourage you to read it and to pray. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Monthly Confession
Message of June 26, 1981 “Make your peace with God and among yourselves. For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go to confession.” Message of November 7, 1983 “Do not go to confession through habit, to remain the same after that. No, it is not good. Confession should give an impulse to your faith. It should stimulate you and bring you closer to Jesus. If confession does not mean anything for you, really, you will be converted with great difficulty.”

Holy Communion
Message of May 16, 1985 “Dear children! I am calling you to a more active prayer and attendance at Holy Mass. I wish your Mass to be an experience of God. I wish especially to say to the young people: be open to the Holy Spirit because God wished to draw you to Himself in these days when Satan is at work. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

O Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, help us to use the five weapons you give to us.  Pray for us and for all the intentions we receive through this ministry. 

Reflection: Consecration to Jesus through Mary in Preparation for the Year of Mercy...

Behold, your Mother.  John 19:27

The way to be close to Jesus and Mary is to consecrate our lives to them and by praying and meditating on the Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary.

I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and justice, in love and mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord.  Hosea 2:21-22

We will know the Lord by drawing close to Mary in prayer through the Rosary.  How do we get close to Jesus?  Mary, our beautiful Mother, will draw us close to her Beloved Son.

We can make a Consecration to Jesus through Mary and place ourselves totally in her hands. When you do, you give her permission to form you, discipline you, and mold you into a true follower of Christ. Do not be afraid, as Saint John Paul II always said. She loves you and will always take care of you. Always remember her words to Saint Juan Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico:

"Hear and let it penetrate your heart, my dear little son; let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you; let nothing alter your heart or your countenance.  Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain.  Am I not hear who am your Mother?  Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life?  Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?  Is there anything else that you need?"

The consecration can be made using the books, 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley MIC or Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort. Through the consecration, we surrender ourselves as a slave to Mary, and to Jesus through her. Then we perform all our actions with Mary, through Mary and for Mary.  When I made the Consecration to Jesus through Mary, I had no idea what a profound and beautiful impact it would have on my life. I renew my Consecration every year at the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary.  Sometimes I renew it more than once a year, on another Marian Feast Day.

We will begin the Consecration to Jesus through Mary on November 5 and end on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, the first day of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

33 Days to Morning Glory Podcasts...Click here

Totus Tuus, Totally Yours!