Reflection: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of the Visitation. Mary traveled to be with her cousin Elizabeth. Imagine the joy both women experienced in sharing the miraculous events that they were both "with child."

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39

Mary went "in haste" to Elizabeth. She knew what the Lord had asked her to do, to be the Mother of God. She knew her mission. The Lord has given you a mission too. In prayer, ask Him to reveal it to you.

Elizabeth greeted Mary with the words, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Luke 1:42

Mary went to serve Elizabeth and she teaches us how to serve one another. John the Baptist leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb. John sensed the Presence of Jesus. Two women met. Elizabeth seemed to be too old to have a child, but she was destined to bear a son John; Mary, seemed to be not ready to have a child, but she was destined to bear a Son Jesus.

Mary burst forth with the song of praise called the Magnificat, with the words:

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

Our God is a God of surprises! He loves to delight us and often does the unexpected. He wants you to trust in Him and to expect miracles for nothing is impossible with God.

For nothing will be impossible for God. Luke 1:37  

Meditation:
On this day, find a quiet place to ponder the Visitation and the love and friendship of Mary and Elizabeth as they share with one another what God has done for them. Invite Mary to come into your home and visit with you. As you spend time with Mary, share with her all the things that are on your heart, your joys, desires, hopes, fears, sorrows and sufferings. She is your Mother. Ask her to help you persevere in prayer, having faith and expectant hope as she does. Ask Mary to help you know what mission the Lord has given you and ask her to guide you along the way. As your visit with Mary draws to a close, invite her to come back to your home. Then join with Mary in a song of praise to the Lord, making her Magnificat, your own. Take Mary's hand as she draws you to Jesus. In the Presence of Jesus, receive His love, mercy and peace.

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.  Romans 12:12

Reflection: The Most Holy Trinity

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we call upon the Trinity to be with us as we pray. Where the Trinity dwells, our Blessed Mother Mary is with them. The Most Holy Trinity is Love.  

The Angel of Peace gave the Prayer to the Holy Trinity to the shepherd children one year before the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917:

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

With the Blessed Sacrament suspended in the air, the Angel of Peace recited this prayer during the third apparition to the children in Fatima in 1916. The children were illuminated with Love in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament and they were consumed with zeal to pray and offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. They imitated the Angel and prostrated themselves before the Eucharist for long periods of time. The Angel prepared their hearts for the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, who came to them and to us as Our Lady of the Rosary.

O Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, you were crowned by God the Father as His beloved daughter, by Jesus, the Son, as His dearest Mother and by the Holy Spirit as His chosen spouse. You are the most perfect adorer of the Blessed Trinity. Please help us imitate you, our powerful intercessor and merciful Mother. We entrust our prayers and petitions for all the names we receive through this ministry into your loving care.  

We pray in the Name of our Heavenly Father, and of the Son Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Trinity dwells, our Blessed Mother Mary is in the center. 

Reflection: Jesus asked the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaus, a blind man, the son of Timaus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." Mark 10:46-47

Then the crowd rebuked the blind man and tried to silence him, but he persisted in calling out to Jesus. When Jesus heard him cry out, He stopped and asked that the man be brought to Him.

And when he came near, Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to Him replied, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately, he received his sight and followed Him on the way." Mark 10:51-52

Meditation:

Imagine you are in the crowd and you witness this scene. A blind man hears that Jesus is coming and he calls out to Him, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stops and says to Bartimaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 

Then Jesus turns and speaks to YOU the same words, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

Call out to Jesus now, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus is waiting for you. 

Are you blinded by the things of the world? 

Are you afraid? Do your fears blind your vision? 

Do you want to see?

Tell Jesus what you want Him to do for you. Pour out your heart to Him.

Jesus is speaking to YOU: "What do you want Me to do for you?"  Listen in the silence and hear His voice.

Jesus is waiting for you. When you have a personal encounter with Jesus, you are changed forever. Sometimes, people will try to silence you or stop you from turning to Jesus. Do not listen to their rebukes. Cry out to Jesus. Turn to Him and tell Him what you want Him to do for you.

Jesus is calling YOU to an intimate encounter.  Go and visit a church or chapel and sit in His Presence in Eucharistic Adoration or before the tabernacle. Jesus is waiting for you there. He will open your eyes so you can see and He will enter your heart. Come away and be still...

Jesus performs many miracles in order to increase faith. Jesus wants each one of us to have a personal encounter with Him. He wants to touch your heart in an intimate way, to meet you personally. When He comes to you, He will increase your faith and He will heal you in ways you could never imagine. Thank and praise Him for what He has done for you.

"Come away by yourself to a secluded place and rest awhile." Mark 6:31

Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church

Today is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. It was established by Pope Francis in 2018 to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost.

A beautiful mosaic of Mary was placed in Saint Peter's Square by Pope Saint John Paul II and is titled, Mater Ecclesiae (Latin meaning Mother of the Church). Under the image of Mary, his apostolic motto is inscribed, Totus Tuus (totally yours). He entrusted himself completely into the arms of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He desired that all who come to Saint Peter's Square raise their eyes with trust and in prayer.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

When Mary stood at the foot of the Cross, Jesus gave her to the beloved disciple John and he took her to his home. In giving His Mother to John, Jesus gave her to us. Mary is our Mother and she is the Mother of the Church. God entrusted her with this mission. When we experience the cross, we can turn to Mary. She is our model and our Mother. She guides and accompanies us and the Church on the pilgrim journey with the tender love of a mother.

Alleluia. Alleluia. O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord; O Blessed Mother of the Church, you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...

The disciples devoted themselves with one another to prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Acts 1:14

A Pentecost Meditation...Veni Sancte Spiritus

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."  John 20:19-23

Come Holy Spirit. Come through Mary.

Meditation: Let us enter the Upper Room with Mary. The disciples are filled with fear. Mary is in their midst, comforting them. As you sit near Mary, a noise suddenly comes from the sky, like a strong driving wind. Tongues of fire appear resting on the disciples and on you. All are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in different tongues. All fear was gone. As you ponder this scene, stay near to Mary and invite her into your heart. Thank the Holy Spirit for coming to you and ask Him to dwell in you always and to pour out His gifts upon you so that you may proclaim the love of Jesus to everyone you encounter!  

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit... Acts 2:4

The Sequence for Pentecost Sunday, Veni Sancte Spiritus, a prayer to the Holy Spirit, is a melody of Gregorian chant. The words and melody blend together so beautifully that it has become the customary prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send now Your Spirit over us and all those we pray for. May the Blessed Virgin Mary be our Advocate. O Holy Spirit, as you did with the Apostles and Mary in the Upper Room, make Your consoling Presence known to us that we may share Your love with others.

Reflection: "Consecrate them in the truth."

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. 1 John 3:1

You are a beloved child of the Father. You have been "consecrated" in the truth. You are loved more that you can ever imagine. Remain in that Love which has been bestowed upon you. Stay attached to Him through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, through prayer, through Eucharistic Adoration and through the Scriptures.

"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate Myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth." John 17:17-19

In his homily this morning, my pastor spoke of Pope Saint Leo the Great who asked: "What is truth?"

The truth is God sent His Son into the world. 

The truth is that Son was born of a Virgin. 

The truth is that Son grew in wisdom and obedience.

The truth is that Son performed miracles. 

The truth is that Man suffered and died on the Cross.

The truth is that Man rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

This is the truth we consecrate ourselves in. This is the truth we bring into the world. In the world, there are those who love the truth and those who hate the truth. Remain in the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Remain in Him.

Meditation:

Place yourself in the scene of this Gospel as Jesus is praying to the Father. The disciples are nearby, listening to Jesus. As you listen, draw close to Jesus that you know how intimate His relationship is with the Father. Jesus is speaking to the Father about you and how much He loves you. Sit with Him and allow His love to flow over you like a river.

Then Jesus tells you that He and the Father are One. As you listen, you hear Jesus say He is going to the Father. He is teaching you how to pray to the Father as He prays to Him. Jesus is interceding to the Father for you. He is calling you to follow Him. To be His disciple, Jesus wants you to be with Him in union with the Father.

Lift up your eyes to heaven and speak to the Father, open your heart and know that the Father hears your prayers. You are not alone. He is with you and you are His beloved child.

Lifting up His eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying, "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, so that they may all be one, as You Father are in Me and I in You, that they my be also in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." John 17:20-21

Our Lady of Fatima: Pray the Rosary daily for peace

Our Lady appeared in Fatima between May 13th and October 13th, 1917 to the shepherd children. Mary, the Mother of God, told them that God had sent her with a message for every man, woman and child. At the time, there was war and violence in many parts of the world, much as it is today. She told the children to pray the Rosary daily.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy. Words requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima to be prayed after each decade of the Rosary

Mary appealed to all to pray hard so that the war would cease. On many occasions, the children were asked to tell the people to pray the rosary daily for personal conversion and world peace. Mary warned that people would suffer the consequences of war, hunger and persecution of the Church if they disobeyed God's Will.

Do you pray the Rosary every day?  If not, begin today. 

Pray the Rosary daily for peace, healing and conversion in our country.

Our Lady wants us to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart, a consecration in which we make a complete surrender of self to our Mother, promising her that we will: Pray the Rosary every day. Offer the little daily sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Make the five Communions of Reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months. In the last apparition at Fatima, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, holding the Scapular in her outstretched hand. The Scapular is the sign of our consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart. It can be worn as a reminder of the promise we have made to Mary.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, identified herself to the shepherd children of Fatima as the Lady of the Rosary. Repeatedly during Our Lady's series of apparitions to the children, she emphasized praying the Rosary daily and "to pray the Rosary well," with meditation on the mysteries.

The Queen of Heaven held out the Rosary to mankind as a means of obtaining the salvation of souls, the conversion of sinners, true world peace, and the conversion of Russia. Let us use this spiritual treasure and pray the Rosary every day for peace in our country.

Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Rosary, we entrust all the names we receive through this ministry to your loving care.

The Ascension of the Lord and Our Lady of Fatima

Jesus ascended to the Father into heaven to prepare a place for us. He promised to send us a Helper, an Advocate, a Consoler, a Sanctifier. His message for us is hope, guidance and consolation. 

Through the grace of the Ascension, may we keep our eyes, minds and hearts fixed on heaven.

Acts of the Apostles 1:8-11 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen Him going into heaven."

Pope Benedict XI:  "The Lord draws the gaze of the Apostles our gaze toward Heaven to show how to travel the road of good during earthly life. Nevertheless, He remains within the framework of human history; He is near to each of us and guides our Christian journey: He is the companion of the those persecuted for the faith, He is in the heart of those who are marginalized, He is present in those whom the right to life is denied. We can hear, see and touch our Lord Jesus in the Church, especially through the Word and the Sacraments."

Jesus promised He would never leave us. He is with is in the Sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church. He is with us in the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Consoler, the Sanctifier, who will descend upon us and the whole Church on Pentecost.

Come Holy Spirit! Come through Mary!

"And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

One hundred and four years ago today, Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the three shepherd children, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, between May 13th and October 13th, 1917. Mary, the Mother of God, told them that God had sent her with a message for every man, woman and child. At the time, there was war and violence in many parts of the world, much as it is today.

The Blessed Mother appealed to all to pray the rosary daily for the family and for peace. Mary warned that people would suffer the consequences of war, hunger and persecution of the Church if they disobeyed God's Will.

In 1952, Pope Pius XII consecrated Russia to the Blessed Virgin. Saint Pope John Paul II consecrated the entire world to the Virgin Mary in 1984, a year after the assassination attempt was made on his life. Saint John Paul II believed that his life was saved and he was protected by Our Lady of Fatima. After consecrating the world to her Immaculate Heart, the Pope placed the bullet that hit him on the crown of Our Lady.

Our Lady said to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart and pray the Rosary every day, to offer little daily sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, to make the five Communions of Reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months.

In the last apparition at Fatima, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, holding the Scapular in her outstretched hand. The Scapular is the sign of our consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart. It can be worn as a reminder of the promise we have made to Mary.

The Mother of God identified herself to the shepherd children of Fatima saying,

"I am the Lady of the Rosary."

On this Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we lift our hearts and minds to heaven. Our Lady of Fatima, as we celebrate your first apparition to the shepherd children today, we entrust all the names we receive through this ministry to your loving care. All for Jesus through Mary.

Reflection: Mary's Garden

The Angel Gabriel visited Mary at the Annunciation to tell her that God had chosen her to be the Mother of our Savior. In this image, the Angel Gabriel is presenting to Mary the Madonna lily which symbolizes purity.

Mary's Garden is a garden, filled with flowers, plants and trees named for Mary and Jesus. It is designed to be a place of beauty to remind us of our Lord and Our Lady, a place of prayer and contemplation.

During the Middle Ages, there were reminders of Mary, the Mother of God, in the flowers and herbs growing around them. Violets were symbols of her humility, lilies of her purity and roses of her glory, marigolds were Mary’s Gold, clematis was the Virgin’s Bower, lavender was Our Lady’s Drying Plant, petunias and purple blossoms of the blue flag iris. The Madonna lily, carried by the Angel Gabriel, bedstraw, holy hay and other herbs filled the humble manger where Mary gave birth to Jesus. The Christmas rose bloomed on that holy night. Many of the plants can be easily grown in your own Mary Garden and can be found throughout the world. More than 30 flowers and herbs have legends about Mary’s life.  May crownings were often tradition during Mary’s month of May and makeshift home altars bearing an image of Mary were decorated with home-grown blossoms.

Lily of the Valley Convalleria majalis Mary’s Tears.
It was said that when Mary wept at the foot of the Cross, her tears fell to the ground and turned into the tiny fragrant blossoms of this early spring plant. In England it had the name “Our Lady’s Tears” because when viewed from a distance the white flowerets gave the appearance of teardrops falling. The lily of the valley was a symbol of the Virgin Mary because of its pure white flowers, sweet smell and humble appearance. It symbolized Mary’s Immaculate Conception and represented the purity of body and soul by which Mary found favor with God.

You are an enclosed garden, my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed. Arise, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow upon my garden that its perfumes may spread abroad. Song of Solomon 4:12,16

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the May. Make our hearts a garden of prayers for all those we pray for and their families.

Reflection: A Mother's Day Meditation and Prayer

Today we celebrate Mother's Day. On this day, we remember all our mothers, living and deceased, and all women who have been spiritual mothers to us.

A dear friend gave me a beautiful statue of Mary called Madonna Magnificat. Mary's face is captivating and her hands are folded in prayer. She looks like she is pondering. I gaze at this image often.

"Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."  Luke 2:19 

Meditation: 
Take a moment and be still. Gaze at an image of the face of Mary or an image of Mary gazing at the Baby Jesus. Ponder this image and call upon the Holy Spirit to be with you during this intimate time of prayer. Mary is a model for all mothers. Speak to Mary and ask her to teach you how to ponder as she did. There were many things Mary did not understand but she pondered them in her heart. Ask her for the grace to ponder the things you do not understand. Ask her to be with you as you ponder. Mary was in the Upper Room with the Apostles at Pentecost. She is with you always and she will draw you to her Beloved Son Jesus.

"When they entered the city, they went to the Upper Room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and His brothers." Acts 1:13-14

A Mother's Prayer by Rachel Aldous

My sweet baby on loan from above. No better treasure could I more love. I stand here beside your bed as I pray, I lay my hand on your head and I say: 

May you grow up to serve Him all of your days. May He lead you and guide you in all of your ways. May His hand bless your future with friendships that last. May you cherish your youth and not grow up too fast. 

I stare in wonder at your tiny frame. Just to think that God knows you by name. He knows every hair on your beautiful head. He knows your thoughts before they are said. 

May you grow up to serve Him all of your days. May He lead you and guide you in all of your ways. May His Hand bless your future with friendships that last. May you cherish your youth and not grow up too fast. 

May God grant you peace in the midst of a storm. May God give you strength even when you’re forlorn. May you answer the door when Jesus comes knocking. May wisdom guide when your mouth is talking. May discretion protect you and keep you pure. May you never stumble or fall for a lure. May your heart remain humble to the very end. May uprightness and truth be what you defend. May the world not ensnare or change who you are. 

May the light that's within you shine like the stars. May angels surround you body, spirit, mind. May favor and peace be yours to find. May rejection and pain never reach you. May your spirit grow bold for what you’re called to. 

May you grow up to serve Him all of your days. May He lead you and guide you in all of your ways. May His Hand bless your future with friendships that last. May you cherish your youth and not grow up too fast. As you rest in God’s care I will rest, too. Knowing that Jesus is watching over you. Amen.

Through this ministry, we pray for so many intentions. In a special way today, we pray for mothers who have lost a child through death, accident, miscarriage or abortion that God will console them.  We also pray for mothers of disabled children that God will give them strength to embrace their child and see, in their child, the beauty created by God. We remember today all mothers. We turn to Mary, our Blessed Mother for all their needs. 

"In this is love." 1 John 4:10

Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, we entrust to you all mothers and their families. Bless them and wrap them under your protective mantle of love.

Reflection: You are My friends

Jesus chose YOU to be His friend. He asks You to keep His commandments and He invites you to spend time with Him, as you do with a dear friend.

You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another." John 15:14-17

To be a friend of Jesus, He tells us: "Keep My commandments and love one another." When we keep the Ten Commandments, we establish a friendship with Jesus and grow in His Love.

"Sin is hurting the one you love." Venerable Fulton Sheen

Serious sin breaks the Heart of God, a God who loves us even when we sin. He died for us on the Cross to show us how much He loves us. Say NO to sin and say YES to a deep friendship with Jesus. When we stay close to Jesus, in friendship, He helps us grow in virtue and love one another.

Jesus heals us through the Sacraments and speaks to us through the Scriptures. When Jesus calls us His friends, He is inviting us into His life. Friends want to spend time with one another. To know Jesus, spend time with Him in prayer, in silence, reading the Scriptures, in Eucharistic adoration and stay attached to Him by following the commandments and attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation often. By making a good confession, we restore our friendship with Jesus. In this way, we are healed and we get to know Jesus better and know ourselves better.

O Jesus, You are our friend. Help us to imitate You by staying close to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Heal our hearts and bring healing, peace and comfort to all those for whom we pray.

Reflection: I am the vine; you are the branches.

Jesus teaches us that He is the vine, God the Father is the vine grower and we are the branches.

Jesus said to His disciples, "I am the vine, and My Father is the vine grower. John 15:1

Jesus takes away the branches that do not bear fruit. He prunes them so that the branches will bear more fruit. 

How can you bear fruit?
You bear fruit by staying attached to the vine, which is Jesus. He has called you, by name, as His disciple and He wants you to bear fruit with your life.

I am the vine; you are the branches. John 15:5

How do you stay attached to the vine?  
Jesus gave us prayer and the Holy Mass to keep us attached to the vine. During the Mass, we hear the Word of God, which nourishes our minds and souls and we receive the Eucharist to feed us as food for the journey, the Bread from Heaven. We stay attached to the vine by going to confession. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus pours out His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. Through this Sacrament, Jesus will heal, prune, purify and sanctify us.

Without Jesus, we can do nothing. Jesus uses the image of the vine to show us that we can grow and become who He made us to be. When we stay attached to Him, He gives us strength and grace to endure hardships, to carry our crosses and to bear fruit with our lives. When we bear fruit, we share our gifts with others; we serve God by serving others. Jesus said:

By their fruits, you will know them. Matthew 7:20

Have you ever felt alone, isolated or excluded by others?  
If you have experienced this kind of pain, physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual, bring your hurts, sins and pain to confession. Go often to this Sacrament of healing and mercy. Bring your sufferings to Jesus, in prayer, especially during the Mass. If you can, go to daily Mass. In this way, Jesus will heal you and nourish you every day with His Word and the Eucharist.

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. John 15:7-8

Reflection: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.

Jesus said to His disciple: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

We are living in times of distress and lack of peace. Jesus came to give us peace. He will never leave us alone. Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the shepherd children in 1917 and gave us the key to peace in the world. She said, "I am the Lady of the Rosary. Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace in the world."   

"O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain that unites us to God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of salvation against the assaults of Hell, safe port in our universal shipwreck, we will never abandon you.  You will be out comfort in the hour of death: yours our final kiss as life ebbs away.  And the last word from out lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompeii, O Dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted, may you be everywhere blessed, today and always, on heaven and on earth." Saint Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on the Rosary 

May we always remember Saint John Paul II's Apostolic Letter describing the Rosary as the "sweet chain that unites us to God."  

The Power of the Rosary
"The most holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or, above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, of the families of the world, or of the religious communities, or even of the life of peoples and nations, that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the holy Rosary. With the holy Rosary, we will save ourselves; we will sanctify ourselves; we will console our Lord, and obtain the salvation of many souls." Conversation between Sr. Lucy of Fatima and Fr. Fuentes, Dec. 26, 1957

Do you desire peace? Do you pray the Rosary daily for peace? If not, begin today. 

Our Lady of the Rosary, we entrust to you all the names we receive through this prayer ministry. Keep them under your protective mantle and always in your loving care. Receive our rosaries and bring about peace in our hearts, our families, our country and our world.  

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

Reflection: Today we celebrate the 11th Anniversary of the John 10:10 Prayer Ministry

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Today we celebrate the 11th Anniversary of this prayer ministry. We honor our Blessed Mother Mary on this first day of her month of May. The ministry is consecrated to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary.

Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, Patroness of  the John 10:10 prayer ministry  "Prayer is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a simple glance darted upwards to Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy!"

In great gratitude, we give thanks and pray for our beloved priests who have prayed a Prayer of Entrustment to Mary for this prayer ministry at:  The Basilica of Mary Major in Rome, Italy, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima, Portugal, Sacred Heart Parish Church at the site of St. Bernadette's Baptismal font in Lourdes, France, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents in Stockbridge, Massachusetts USA, St. Peter's Basilica at the tomb of St. John Paul II, Vatican City, Rome, Italy and the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico

This ministry began on May 1, 2010 but the prayers actually began in May 2006, praying for an unborn baby, Lily Grace. There were medical problems with the baby and we began praying the novena to Saint Anne that "Lily Grace would have abundant life." Through the intercession of Saint Anne, mother of our Blessed Mother and grandmother of Jesus, Lily Grace was born in November 2006. We give thanks for all the prayers for this precious little baby. She is now a healthy and happy fourteen year old who loves her family and her little sister, eleven year old Norah!

Over these past years, as we pray each day, we have received so many other names to include in our prayers through this ministry. We pray for families, for unborn babies and for children who are healthy, sick or disabled. We pray for priests and seminarians whose vocations are nurtured in their families. We pray for pregnant women, couples who are trying to become pregnant, couples who want to adopt, mothers who have had miscarriages. We pray for parents who have suffered the death of a baby or a child. We pray for grandparents and their grandchildren. We pray for mothers and fathers who have had an abortion or considered having one and for those who are wounded by abortion. We pray for parents who are struggling to accept their disabled child, as well as parents who embrace their disabled child and see, in that child, the beauty that was created by God.

We pray for families, for the sanctity of all life and for vocations to marriage, the priesthood and consecrated life, which are born and nurtured in families.

Prayer changes things. We give thanks for the John 10:10 prayer partners who pray the Memorare every day for all the names we have received and all the names we will receive. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to the Lord for the ways He has answered the thousands upon thousands of prayers that have been offered throughout these eleven years. Jesus performs miracles, seen and unseen, through all your prayers.

A monthly Mass is offered for all the John 10:10 prayer partners and all the prayer intentions.

SWEET VIDEO
(This video was posted on the first blog posting on May 1, 2010)