The one, true and living God

A little something from another time, before I came to Chippawa parish, but always important.HERE

An Atmosphere of Unbelief

We live immersed in an atmosphere of unbelief.

It is extremely harmful to the spiritual life.

War is being waged on

     •  every idea of superior authority

     •  every idea of GOD

     •  every idea of Revelation

     •  every idea of a future life

     •  every idea of mortification

For this reason all the Faithful must learn, meditate on

and be strongly grounded in

the fundamental truths of the Faith.

We must be inspired by

     • the Christian concept of life or "world view"

     •  the sense of having to answer for our every deliberate act, to the Supreme Judge, who is everywhere, who knows everything and sees everything

we must root in our hearts,

     • the holy fear of God,

     • the love of Christ

     • the love of the Church

     • a taste for charity and for solid piety

     • esteem for the virtues and for Christian practices.

If we do NOT do this,

we build our lives on the shifting sands of changeable ideas and on human respect.

If we DO carry this all out,

we build our lives on the rock of supernatural convictions: they wont let us down throughout our whole life, no matter what storms may come.

The Prayer Stella Caeli against the Epidemic

Stella Coeli

The Star of Heaven that nourished the Lord

drove away the plague of death which the first

parents of man brought into the world. May

this bright Star now vouchsafe to extinguish

that foul constellation whose battles have

slain the people with the wound of death.

O most kind and loving Star of the Sea,

preserve us from pestilence;

hear us, O Lady, for Thy Son honours

Thee by denying Thee nothing.

Save us, O Jesus, for whom Thy Virgin Mother supplicates Thee.

V: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God of mercy, God of pity, God of benign clemency,

Thou Who hast had compassion on the affliction of Thy

people, and hast said to the angel striking them, “Stop thy

hand;” for the love of this glorious Star, whose breasts

Thou didst sweetly drink as antidote for our crimes,

grant the assistance of Thy grace, that we may be safely freed

from all pestilence, and from unprovided death; and mercifully

save us from the gulf of eternal perdition: through Thee,

Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, who livest and reignest,

world without end. Amen.

STATIONS of the CROSS with Thoughts from ST. PAUL of the CROSS

STATIONS of the CROSS

with Thoughts from

ST. PAUL of the CROSS

First Station: Jesus is condemned to Death

“It is necessary that we accept the cross of tribulation willingly, at least with the higher part of our soul, as Jesus accepted His condemnation in perfect conformity to the will of the Father”

Prayer: O Jesus! so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials.

One Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross

“Most fortunate is the soul who walks by the way of Calvary, following Jesus our Redeemer, for if we suffer with Christ now with Christ we shall reign in the glory of the Father.”

 My Jesus, this cross should be mine, not Thine; my sins crucified Thee.

Third Station: Jesus Falls for the First Time

“Come and see our Savior enduring so much suffering, so many insults, and oppressed with the heavy burden of the cross, for love of us. Contemplate the Son of God, Redeemer of the world, and how much He is suffering. O Jesus in Your sufferings I see the gravity of my sins. Lord have mercy!”

O Jesus! by the first fall, never let me fall into mortal sin.

Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother

“The Sorrowful Mother seeks her Divine Son, Jesus; she meets him on the way to Calvary; she sees Him bound, crowned with thorns, with the cross on his shoulders. O Queen of Martyrs, we also have been your sorrow that, like a sharp and unrelenting sword has pierced your soul.”

O Jesus! may no human tie, however dear, keep me from following the road of the Cross.

Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

“Those who suffer tribulations, suffering, persecutions, and are despised for the love of God are helping Jesus Christ carry His cross. If they persevere, they will be partakers of His glory in heaven.”

Simon unwillingly assisted Thee; may I, with patience, suffer all for Thee

Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

“The remembrance of the most holy Passion of Jesus Christ is the door through which the soul enters into intimate union with God, interior recollection and most sublime contemplation. It must be impressed deeply on our souls as we allow ourselves to be immersed in His bitter sufferings, for through these the love of God is enkindled in us and we will then be plunged in the abyss of the divinity.”

O Jesus! Thou didst imprint Thy Sacred features upon Veronica's veil; stamp them also indelibly upon my heart.

Seventh Station: Jesus Falls for the Second Time

“The greater number of Christians live unmindful of all that Jesus, our Life, has done and suffered. That is why they live on, sleeping in the night of iniquity.”

By the second fall, preserve me, dear Lord, from relapse into sin.

Eighth Station: Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem

“The most holy Passion of Jesus Christ is the most efficacious means to convert obstinate sinners, because meditation on the sufferings of our Savior has power to root out vice and implant love and holy fear of God in the soul.”

My greatest consolation would be to hear Thee say: “Many sins are forgiven thee, because thou hast loved much.”

Ninth Station: Jesus Falls for the Third Time

“Let us be glad when we are afflicted and the cross is most heavy on our shoulders, because then if we suffer with the patience of Christ we will begin to be His disciples.”

O Jesus! When weary upon life's long journey, be Thou my strength and perseverance.

Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

“Jesus permitted Himself to be despoiled of His garments on Calvary in order to teach us to renounce our own will when it is not conformable to the will of the Father. He wants us to strip ourselves of earthly affections and all inordinate love of the things of this world, so that we may clothe ourselves with the virtues of Christ.”

My soul has been robbed of its robe of innocence; clothe me, dear Jesus, with the garb of penance and contrition.

Eleventh Station: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

“We must glory in nothing else but in being crucified with Jesus and in bearing the marks of His wounds in our body. We must strive for great detachment from creatures in order to be united only with the Creator, through the various sufferings and pains of life, endured for the love of God, in patience, silence in the midst of all the sacrifices demanded by our state in life, and by practicing the virtues taught by our Divine Savior.”

Thou didst forgive Thy enemies;my God, teach me to forgive injuries and FORGET them.

Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross

“Jesus died to give us life: all creatures are in sorrow: the sun is darkened, the earth trembles, the rocks split, the veil of the temple is rent; will only our heart remain harder than the rock? Let us be immersed in a sea of sorrow over the death of Jesus and let us say to Him: "Lord, we thank you for having died on the cross for our sins."”

Thou art dying, my Jesus, but thy Sacred Heart still throbs with love for Thy sinful children.

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

“If we go to the crucifix, we find our Mother of Sorrows, for where the Mother is, there also is the Son. Dear Mother, what sorrow you experienced in receiving your dead Son into your arms! We beseech you, Holy Mother, grant that the Passion of our Lord may be for us a fountain of sorrow, of pardon, of love and of life.”

Receive me into Thy arms, O Sorrowful Mother; and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins.

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

“Devotion to the Passion of Jesus is the easiest way to be saved. The crucifix is a book wherein we learn every virtue, we learn the science of the saints, and therein we find all.”

When I receive Thee into my heart in Holy Communion, O Jesus, make it a fit abiding place for Thy adorable Body.

---

A brief guide to meditation on Jesus’ Passion by St. Paul of the Cross

The spiritual master provides four thought-provoking questions

that help a person dive deeper into Jesus’ Passion.

St. Paul of the Cross, a holy priest of the 18th century, was deeply devoted to the Passion of Jesus Christ during his lifetime. He possessed a deep spiritual life, which can clearly be seen in his many letters. St. Paul took what he received from God and distributed it generously to anyone who would listen.

             In particular, St. Paul gave a few helpful tips on how to meditate on Jesus’ Passion. He provides thought-provoking questions that dig deep into the soul and give a person ample material to meditate on.

 

 •   Retire, if possible, to some place where you can pray in silence and recollection. Kneel down and recollect yourself in the presence of God; adore His infinite majesty; humble yourself before Him; beg pardon for your sins; implore His grace, saying some prayer like the following:

 

 •   Grant me, O Lord, through Thy bitter Passion and death, the grace to know and love Thy infinite goodness; to thank Thee and have compassion for Thee for Thy sufferings in my behalf. Awaken in me a lively sorrow for my sins and help me for the future to do Thy holy will.

 

 •   Now read or recall to mind some part of the Passion on which you wish to meditate, such as the agony of Our Lord in the garden, the crowning with thorns, the scourging, or the crucifixion.

 

 •   Consider, then, Our Lord's sufferings, comprising them under the following simple questions:

 

 •   Who is it that suffers? (That He is God —Lord of all, Creator of all, God incarnate, Redeemer, infinitely perfect, good, kind, just, loving, etc.)

 

 •   What does He suffer? (Consider the cruelty, shamefulness, length, excess of suffering, etc., and make repeated acts of regret, sorrow, compassion, etc.)

 

 •   Why does He suffer? (Reflect that it is not for His own sake, but for men, His creatures, for sinners especially, and therefore for you in particular.)

 

 •   How does He suffer? (Consider how, or in what manner, Jesus suffers. Reflect on the special virtues of which He gives you an example: His meekness, silence, obedience, patience, etc. ; and see how you can imitate Him, or receive encouragement from Him.)

 

 •   Dwell for some time on each one of these points.

A sad day "under the earth"

Today is a Sad Day

for the Powers of Darkness

 

•     Today we celebrate the Apparition, in 492, of St. Michael the Archangel on Monte Gargano, Italy, which was and is, in some places, a feast day of the Archangel. (This feast was in the universal calendar of the Roman Rite until 1960.)

•     On this day in 1429, St. Joan of Arc won her first victory. She had specifically, clearly and concretely prophesied it: Orleans was liberated. The Archangel was her spiritual and also military advisor.

•     On this day in 1668, Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine fell asleep in the Lord in Québec. She was in her life, and is now in glory, a powerful foe against the evil spirits. She is a Mother of the Church in Canada. Today is her liturgical celebration in Canada and elsewhere.

•     On this day, in 1786, St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, the holy Curé of Ars was born. He snatched many “big fish” away from the powers of darkness. The demons were so angry with him that they even lit his bed on fire one night (with the permission of Providence, obviously)

 

A Litany for Today:

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             have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,                           have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God,                                   have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,                                         pray for us.

Holy Mother of God,                                      "

Holy Virgin of virgins,                                               "

St. Michael                                                     "

All you holy angels                                        "

St. Jochaim and St. Anne                                           "

St. Joseph                                                       "

St. John the Baptist                                         "

St. Peter and St. Paul                                      " 

St. Catherine of Alexandria                            "

St. Margaret of Antioch                                 "

St. Joan of Arc                                                "

Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine            "

St. John-Mary Vianney                                  "

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

       spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

       graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take 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.

G RANT, we beseech You, O Lord God,

that we, Your servants,

may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;

and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin,

of St. Michael the Archangel,

and of all the angels and saints,

may be delivered from present sorrow,

and obtain eternal joy.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Wednesday, Week 3, January 30, 2019

Some Notes on Today's Gospel ‎ 1. ‎Since it is absolutely certain that "God wills all human beings to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth" the reference to seeing but not understanding and not being forgiven refers to the bad dispositions of some moral men who do not want to understand because they do not want to repent. ‎2. The Gospel of Mark is Mark's transmission of the Gospel as preached by the Apostle Peter. Or, more likely, it is the translation into Greek of a Hebrew original written by Peter. A sign of Peter's humility: the boat belonged to him, but he doesn't mention it. 3. No one is by nature, or through mere human virtue, "good soil". Only divine grace can make us ready to receive the seed of the word of God and then bear supernatural good fruit.  4. In the parable, the evil spirits are compared to birds eating seed. Perhaps to fix this image in our hearts, we could watch Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Birds", or think of birds that we regard as somewhat of a nuisance like... Canada Geese. 5.. Excessive desires, which may even be legitimate, within due limits, can choke the effect of the word of God and of grace. 6. For the word to bear fruit, as the nature of the "message of truth" demand,s requires that the word be understood.‎

Back again, with today's Gospel

How today’s Gospel should be translated: Mark 3:31-35 Revised Standard Version (RSV) with corrections The True Kindred of Jesus 31 And his mother and his kinfolk came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your kinfolk are outside, asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” This text gives a clue that it is not originally written in Greek, but translated into Greek from Aramaic or, more likely, Hebrew. It does not have the paragraph long, logically and elegantly composed sentences. Rather it has short uncomplicated sentences, typical of Hebrew. So it is fitting and reasonable to observe that Aramaic and Hebrew do not have a specific word “brother” as opposed to “cousin”, but rather a word that covers both, which we have given as “kinfolk”. Hebrew can of course communicate our “brother” by specifying that the person was born of the same mother as me, and “cousin” by stating born of my mother’s kinswoman. “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Whoever does God’s will, whoever “does the truth in charity” is a child of God through Faith. So they are brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus. But “mother”? Yes. Who ever “does God’s will” is a living branch on the true Vine, Jesus Christ. They are a “good tree” that produces “good fruit”. Thus they bring about that, or contribute to the rebirth of others into the supernatural life of a regenerated child of God. So they are “mothers”. All of us believers can carry out this good work by prayer. We should pray for the conversion and eternal salvation of all “poor sinners” and all “poor unbelievers”.