Mother, Inspire Repentence Deep within Us: Tuesday, July 7, 2020


J.M.J.

Related by the Reverend Raymond P. Roden in his article entitled, "An Astounding Mercy: The Conversion of the Man who Killed St. Maria Goretti" (America Magazine, April 21, 2016):

The prison bars and walls fell away and his cell was a sunlit garden blooming with flowers. Towards him came a beautiful girl dressed in pure white. He said to himself, “How is this? Peasant girls wear darkish clothes.” But he saw it was Marietta (Maria). She was walking among flowers toward him, smiling, and without the least fear. He wanted to flee from her, but could not. Marietta picked white lilies and handed them to him saying, “Alessandro, take them.” He accepted the lilies one by one, fourteen of them. But a strange thing took place. As he received them from her fingers, the lilies did not remain lilies but changed into so many splendid flaming lights. There was a lily turned to purifying flame for every one of the fourteen mortal blows he struck her on the fatal day in Ferriere. Marietta said, smiling, “Alessandro, as I have promised, your soul shall some day reach me in heaven.” Contentment entered his breast. And the scene of incredible beauty dissolved into silence.

From a face-to-face interview with Alessandro Serenelli that appeared in The Penitent by Pietro DiDonato (1962). 


Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for Us!: Saint Maria Goretti, Monday, July 6, 2020



J.M.J.


THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon (St. Luke 2:34-35)
2. The Flight into Egypt (St. Matthew 2:14)
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (St. Luke 2:43-45)
4. The Meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (St. John 19:16-30)
6. The Descent of the Body of Jesus from the Cross (St. Luke 23:53)
7. The Burial of Jesus (St. Mark 15:46)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

THE SEVEN PROMISES AND GRACES ACCRUING TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THIS DEVOTION OF
HONORING AND CONSOLING OUR BLESSED LADY
FOR HER TEARS AND SORROWS
BY RECITING DAILY ONE “HAIL MARY”
WHILE MEDITATING ON EACH SORROW,
AS RELATED BY SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN
(CIRCA 1303-1373):
1. “I will grant peace to their families.”
2. “They will be enlightened by the Divine Mysteries.”
3. “I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.”
4. “I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the Adorable Will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their Souls.”
5. “I will defend them in the spiritual battles with the Infernal Enemy and I will protect them at every instant in their lives.”
6. “I will visibly help them at the moment of their death; they will see the Face of their Mother.”
7. “I have obtained (this Grace) from my Divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my Tears and Dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to Eternal Happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their Eternal Consolation and Joy.”


O Mother, Be Close To Us: Sunday, July 5, 2020


J.M.J.

Dear Friends in Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 

"For My yoke is easy, and My burden light." The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus opens His Divine Heart to each of us. He is ready to forgive the repentant sinner. Let us wait no longer. From hardness of heart, deliver us, O Lord!


*Thank you for the "drive-by" greetings in Emery last Sunday. Special thanks to Sandy, Grace, Jack, Theresa, Bill, Lisa, Olivia and Emma.

*July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How much human blood is spilled so unnecessarily. Kyrie eleison--Lord, have mercy. 

*We welcome Father Thomas Hartman who will make his Retreat this week.

*Welcome to Father John Rader who now lives in Bridgewater.

*Safe travels to all as we pray for our country during these festive days.

"What is Your Question?" 
by Father Ben Miriam

Q. What are the Works of Mercy?

A. There are Seven Corporal Works of Mercy and Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. They are great acts of charity that we are encouraged to make part of our lives. The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy are: To feed the hungry; To give drink to the thirsty; To clothe the naked; To shelter the homeless; To visit the sick; To visit the imprisoned; To bury the dead. The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy are: To instruct the ignorant; To counsel the doubtful; To admonish sinners; To bear patiently those who wrong us; To forgive offenses; To comfort the afflicted; To pray for the living and the dead.

O Mother, Bless and Protect our Beloved Homeland!: First Saturday, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, July 4, 2020


J.M.J.


The Litany of Loreto
(With three new titles added by Pope Francis on the
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Saturday, June 20, 2020)



Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church, 
Mother of mercy,
Mother of divine grace, 
Mother of hope,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners, 
Comfort of migrants,
Comfort of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of All Saints,
Queen conceived without Original Sin,
Queen assumed into Heaven,
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace.


Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. 

Grant, we beseech Thee,
O Lord God,
that we, Thy servants,
may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;
and by the glorious intercession of the blessed Mary, Ever Virgin,
may be delivered from present sorrow,
and obtain eternal joy.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 LETTER TO THE PRESIDENTS OF 
CONFERENCES OF BISHOPS
ON THE INVOCATIONS “MATER MISERICORDIÆ”, “MATER SPEI”,
AND “SOLACIUM MIGRANTIUM”
TO BE INSERTED INTO THE LITANY OF LORETO

Vatican City, 20 June 2020,
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Your Eminence,
Your Excellency,

The Church which walks along the pathways of history as a pilgrim towards the heavenly Jerusalem and enjoys inseparable communion with Christ her Spouse and Savior, entrusts herself to her who believed in the word of the Lord.

We know from the Gospel that the disciples of Jesus had in fact learned from the very beginning to praise her as “blessed amongst women” and to count on her maternal intercession.

The titles and invocations which Christian piety has reserved for the Virgin Mary over the course of the centuries, as the privileged and sure way to an encounter with Christ, are innumerable. Even in this present moment which is marked by feelings of uncertainty and trepidation, devout recourse to her, which is full of affection and trust, is deeply felt by the People of God.

Discerning this sentiment and welcoming the desires expressed, the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, wishes to provide that in the formulary of the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called “The Litany of Loreto”, the invocations “Mater misericordiæ”, “Mater spei” and “Solacium migrantium” should be inserted.

The first invocation shall be placed after “Mater Ecclesiæ”, the second after “Mater divinæ gratiæ”, while the third shall be placed after “Refugium peccatorum”.

With every good wish and kind regard, we wish to entrust this notification to you for your information and application.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Robert. Card. Sarah
Prefect
+Arthur Roche
Archbishop Secretary

We Gladly Adore Your Son's Heart, O Mother!: Saint Thomas the Apostle, The First Friday, July 3, 2020


J.M.J.


Sweet Heart of Jesus! Fount of love and mercy,

Today we come Thy blessings to implore;
Oh touch our hearts so cold and so ungrateful,
And make them Lord, Thine own for evermore.

Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore, 
Oh, make us love Thee, more and more.

Sweet Heart of Jesus! Make us know and love Thee.
Unfold to us the treasures of Thy grace.
That so our hearts, from things of earth uplifted,
May long alone to gaze upon Thy Face.


Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore, 

Oh, make us love Thee, more and more.



Sweet Heart of Jesus! Make us pure and gentle
And teach us how to do Thy blessed will;
To follow close the print of Thy dear footsteps,
And when we fall, Sweet Heart oh, love us still.


Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore, 

Oh, make us love Thee, more and more.



Sweet Heart of Jesus! Bless all hearts that love Thee,
And make Thine own Heart ever blessed be.
Bless us dear Lord, and bless the friends we cherish,
And keep us true to Mary and to Thee.


Sweet Heart of Jesus! We implore, 


Oh, make us love Thee, more and more.

Text: P. J. K. & S./Sister Marie Josephine

Our Lady's Dolphin: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Extraordinary Form), Thursday, July 2, 2020


J.M.J.

An inspiring article about the love for Our Blessed Lady expressed by Father Emile Neubert, S.M., from the late Father Thomas A. Stanley, S.M.

https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/e/emile-neubert-biographical-sketch.php

Ou Lady of the Most Precious Blood, Pray for Us!: The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ (Extraordinary Form), Saint Junipero Serra (Ordinary Form), Wednesday, July 2, 2020


J.M.J.


It is often said that the communications media—radio, television, print and Internet—tend to report primarily “bad news.” The morning headlines and the evening news programs have at least one thing in common: gore. The more blood that is ruthlessly spilled, the more ink that is used to describe in chilling detail the gruesome facts.

To rational people, this continuous bloodletting seems insane. The murders, suicides and maimings pile up with no relief in sight. From such violence comes the inevitable fallout: society at large becomes bitter and unforgiving, desensitized to the horrendous reality of such brutality. Shedding blood, whether one’s own or another’s, seems nowadays to be no big deal.

The Church has traditionally dedicated July to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. The Faithful everywhere recall, as the Consecration of the Mass states, “the Blood of the New and Eternal Covenant, Which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

While countless gallons of blood in our contemporary era are senselessly wasted in vain, the Blood of Christ was shed for the noble purpose of reuniting fallen humanity to its Creator.

The warm, soothing Blood of the Redeemer served as a healing salve for a world grown cold. As Jesus, soaked in His own Blood, hung on the Cross for the world’s salvation, the human race witnessed proof that God would spare nothing in His desire to reestablish sanctifying grace in His sons and daughters.

Although Christ poured out His Blood on Calvary nearly two millennia ago, the merits of that generous act extend to today. Those who have been baptized “have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14) The Precious Blood of Jesus urges the followers of the Lord to imitate the remarkable charity of Christ by selflessly serving God and neighbor.

The World Apostolate of Fátima has long used this Morning Offering which captures the essence of the redemptive power of Christ’s Blood and the subsequent invitation given by Jesus to all believers: “O my God, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ from all the altars of the world, joining with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.”

The Blood of Christ has been shed. But the transforming force of the Precious Blood will be realized only in the hearts of those who are receptive. To resist the stirrings of the Holy Spirit is to render the subjective efficacy of Christ’s Blood ineffective. As with all of God’s gifts, the Precious Blood must be yielded to if It is to have the result for the individual that Christ intends.

Often it appears that our world thirsts for violence. We are inundated by crime waves, wars and ugly domestic quarrels. The Blood of Christ reminds us of a different way to pour out blood: a generous, unforced sacrifice on behalf of others. Instead of responding to hatred with more of the same, we adore the cleansing Blood of Jesus that knows no limits in demonstrating love for a misguided race.