First Saturday, November 1, 2014


J.M.J. Today is the Solemnity of All Saints and the First Saturday. In the United States of America, this Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation (since it falls on a Saturday; the same is true when it falls on a Monday). Hence, a Catholic is not obliged to attend Holy Mass today but is strongly urged to do so.

Who is your Patron Saint?

Our Lady is the Queen of All Saints.

Recently, two copies of the famous book by Father Michael Gaitley, M.I.C., 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration were give to me to distribute. Please contact me (605 521-0175) if you would like a copy.

Happy Birthday, Ava Marie!


Friday, October 31, 2014


J.M.J. It has been said that this day is the backdrop against which numerous sacrileges and outrages are arrogantly thrust against the Most Blessed Eucharist. Let us abstain from meat today or perform some other penance as well as pray together in reparation:

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

May the Heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

Thursday, October 30, 2014


J.M.J. Our Lady is the Queen of the Saints and the Queen of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Please listen to "Morning Star" this morning as we discuss these two important truths.

Great news: the Holy Father's 2015 Intentions have now been published. You may request your copy by calling me (605 521-0175) or by writing to me (msgrmangan@gmail.com).

Wednesday, October 29, 2014


J.M.J. Is Our Lady pleased with our prayer lives? Our lives of service? What can we do for Mary that we have not yet done?


Here is a little something that I wrote that appeared on page 4 in the July 15, 1990 issue of the National Catholic Register.



One of the best but least recognized spiritual guides is Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751), a Franciscan friar known for his preaching in defense of the Immaculate Conception. He offered four "rules" to help achieve peace of soul.

1. To be attached only to God. Status and wealth may be beneficial, but to be overly concerned about them is to invite inner spiritual havoc. The soul's primary need is communication with its Creator. One needs to view objects and persons in reference to God and His will if peace is to reign. To be "dead" to the world and creatures is paramount.

2. To surrender to Divine Providence. All Catholic spiritual writers are unanimous on this point: Sanctity and inner peace are attained only when God's will holds sway. The Lord knows best. Humbly accepting His will is vastly different from reluctantly putting up with it. When a person yields to the divine plan, he demonstrates a belief that God will sustain him, come what may.
3. To welcome suffering and hardship. Human nature tends to resist difficulties. Yet, spiritual perfection entails carrying the cross of Jesus. Scorn and rejection from others--while hardly pleasant--must be seen as an opportunity to experience solidarity with the suffering Christ.

4. To undertake only that which our situation in life demands. Often, a person takes upon himself too many activities at once. "The more, the better" does not necessarily apply in the realm of good works. Prudence dictates what one can accomplish. Inner turmoil may spring from a plethora of activities, even when they are morally good acts. Prayer and counsel will determine what to undertake and what to forego.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014


J.M.J Today, the Church honors Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles. What heroic witnesses they were to Christ, even to the spilling of their blood.

Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

Happy Birthday to Liam Thomas!

Monday, October 27, 2014


J.M.J. The Office of the Marian Apostolate now has two new publications for distribution: the "Prayer for Women" holy card, and the pamphlet entitled, "Our Lady, Catholics and Contraception."

http://onemoresoul.com/featured/our-lady-catholics-and-contraception.html

You may write to me (msgrmangan@gmail.com) for a copy of each.

Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, pray for us!

Sunday, October 26, 2014


J.M.J. Before the recitation of the Angelus today in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis remarked: "You cannot love God without loving your brothers, and you cannot love your brothers without loving God." 


With Our Lady's help, we will be able to love God and neighbor as we ought. Let us ask Mary for assistance!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014


J.M.J. Thirty-six years ago today, the Petrine Ministry of Saint John Paul II was inaugurated. Totus Tuus--"I am totally Yours, O Mary, my Mother"--was his papal motto. May it be our motto, too.

Saint John Paul II, pray for us!

Sunday, October 19, 2014


J.M.J. Today is Mission Sunday. And it is also the backdrop for a very special event: today in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, Pope Francis will beatify the Venerable Paul VI, who was the Vicar of Christ and the Successor of Saint Peter from 1963 until 1978.

Recently, I wrote this about Pope Paul VI: 

The virtues practiced by this saintly Pope were both numerous and inspiring. His good example continues to resound over thirty-five years after his death. Here is only a partial view of the pattern of holiness that he has bequeathed to us.
Prayer. Pope Paul VI began and ended his days with genuine converse with the Living God. He did not fail to set aside time for prayer and reception of the Sacraments.
Love for Our Lady. The Roman Pontiff affectionately looked upon Mary, seeking to imitate her fidelity and humility. Pope Paul VI gave to the Church his noteworthy meditation on Our Lady entitled, Marialis Cultus, which is his Apostolic Exhortation of 2 February 1974. He also made pilgrimage to Fatima in 1967 to see where the Mother of God had appeared in 1917.
Forgiveness. Aware of various hurts that he suffered throughout his life, Pope Paul forgave those who wronged him and those whom he loved. His dear friend, Aldo Moro, who was the leader of the Christian Democratic Party in Italy, was kidnapped and brutally murdered by members of the terroristic Red Brigades in 1978. Although Pope Paul minced no words in decrying their godless violence, he, nevertheless, pardoned them.
Concern for the Suffering. He respected the poor and the downtrodden. Never did he consider himself to be superior to them. He knew his own poverty and suffering. He encouraged the Universal Church and the world to take care of the poor and the suffering.
Perseverance. He relied on the help of God. His confidence in the Lord was strong. No matter what load he had to carry, he continued along the Way of the Cross, sure that the empty tomb was not far off.

Blessed Paul VI was a man after the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we meet him one day in Heaven.


  

Thursday, October 16, 2014



J.M.J. Twelve years ago today, Saint John Paul II bequeathed to the Church a great gift: the Mysteries of Light (or the Luminous Mysteries) of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us rejoice! And let us meditate on these Mysteries often.

Monday, October 13, 2014


J.M.J. Almost one hundred persons gathered yesterday at the Picnic Shelter in McKennan Park, Sioux Falls, for the Public Square Rosary Crusade, which is sponsored by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Praesidium of the Legion of Mary present in Saint Mary Parish, Sioux Falls. Thank You, God! Thank You, Mary!

And who could forget that today is the ninety-seventh Anniversary of Our Lady's sixth and final appearance to Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco in Fatima, Portugal--the day on which the sun miraculously "danced."

Happy Birthday to His Excellency the Most Reverend Charles John Brown, S.T.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland.

Saturday, October 11, 2014


J.M.J. In The Roman Missal (1962) of Saint John XXIII, today is the Feast of the Divine Maternity of Mary. In The Roman Missal (1969) of the soon-to-be Blessed Paul VI, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is January 1st. Whatever the day, the Universal Church exalts that the Almighty chose the Virgin of Nazareth to be the Mother of the Second Person of the Most Blessed Trinity Who took flesh through the Holy Spirit in Our Lady's virginal womb.

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

Tuesday, October 7, 2014



        Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. How fascinating that this very recent Feast is the only one on the General Roman Calendar that incorporates a sacramental (the Holy Rosary) in its title. If you or I succeed in convincing someone to recite the Most Holy Rosary, God will bless us abundantly. Dear Mother, please favor our efforts to promote your Rosary.

First Saturday, October 4, 2014


          I love You, O Pure Immaculate Heart of Mary. May I love You more.

          Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! And please pray for Pope Francis.

First Friday, October 3, 2014



          I love You, O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May I love You more.

Thursday, October 2, 2014


          To think that God has given a Guardian Angel to each of us . . . absolutely fantastic! Thank You, O Lord, for this Angel Guardian. A longstanding pious belief is that a priest receives a second Guardian Angel upon his Ordination. I pray daily to both of my Guardian Angels.


          Happy Birthday to the Reverend Father Jim Friedrich.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014


          "The Little Flower"--Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face--is surely one of the most famous Saints of the last 150 years. Her "little way" indicates to us the path of humility as the path to God.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014


          Perhaps the most well-known quotation from Saint Jerome: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Let us make a fresh effort daily to read and to study The Holy Bible.

Monday, September 29, 2014


          The Holy Archangels are our friends, protectors and good examples. Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, pray for us!

Saturday, September 27, 2014


          Not only do we remember Our Blessed Lady today, since each Saturday is dedicated to the Mother of God, but we also recall Saint Vincent de Paul, the apostle of charity to the poor. What more could I do for those who are poor, whether materially or spiritually--or both?