Message December 25, 2016

MESSAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

December 25, 2016

VILLAGE OF MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA HERCEGOVINA

"Dear children! With great joy, today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, for Him to give you His peace. Open your hearts, little children, and be joyful that you can receive it. Heaven is with you and is fighting for peace in your hearts, in the families and in the world; and you, little children, help with your prayers for it to be so. I bless you with my Son Jesus and call you not to lose hope; and/or your gaze and heart to always be directed towards Heaven and eternity. In this way, you will be open to God and to His plans. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

 The Christmas Story's Best Supporting Actor

By Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.

Readings for the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2016

In the drama of the incarnation, Jesus is, of course, the star. That's the way it is at every birth. All eyes are on the baby. The co-star, though, is definitely mom, without her love and labor, the event could not have happened. In this case, without mom's faith it couldn’t have happened either. According to Luke's Gospel, an angel brought her stunning news. She believed the unbelievable and said "let it be."

But there is a best supporting actor in the drama as well. True, Joseph was not the biological father. But the messiah had to be of David's royal line. In ancient Israel, a child's clan was determined by that of his father. So it was Joseph who legally bound Jesus to the house of David. It was because of Joseph that the family had to go to Bethlehem for the census, that the prophecy might be fulfilled.

God carefully selected the woman who would be the mother of his Son. But he must have been equally careful in his selection of the foster-father. For genes are not the only thing parents impart to their children. Jesus, in his humanity, had to grow in wisdom, age, and grace (Luke 2:52). Joseph must have responsible for a good deal of this growth. It was Joseph who was Jesus' male role model. From Joseph Jesus learned many things, including the trade that he would practice for some twenty years.

But there are even more important things that Jesus learned from Joseph. For Joseph was a just man, an honest man, a courageous man, a man of integrity. His betrothed was pregnant but not by him. Imagine the shame, the hurt, and the anger that he must have experienced assuming what anyone would assume in such a situation. His integrity would not allow him to marry an adulteress and pretend the child was his. Neither would he expose the woman he loved to shame and punishment. He did not procrastinate or waffle. He made the difficult decision to divorce Mary quietly.

But then came the messenger. In Luke's Gospel, there was an angelic Annunciation to Mary. In the first chapter of Matthew, we learn that Joseph gets one too. He was named after the greatest dreamer of the Old Testament. Maybe that's why his annunciation came in a dream.

Mary's great claim to fame is her faith. When told the unbelievable, she believed.

Joseph's claim to fame is also his faith. He too was told the unbelievable and dared to believe. His response of faith entailed taking action-he changed his plans, received Mary into his home, and accepted responsibility for this special child. Keep this in mind, though, that Mary needed no revelation to be sure this was a virginal conception. All Joseph had to go by was what he received from an angel, in a dream.

Do you think he may have been tempted at some point to second guess this experience, especially when things did not go smoothly? After all, when a plan is from God, are not doors supposed to open? Yet when they arrived in Bethlehem, the door of the inn was slammed in their face. If this were God's child, wouldn't God provide a room? And if this were really God's son, wouldn't God have turned back Herod's hit men?

Then the angel shows up again in another dream: "flee to Egypt with Mary and the baby”. Wasn't the 70 mile walk to Bethlehem with a pregnant woman enough? If this were God’s doing, shouldn't there be an easier way?

Joseph may or may not have thought these things. I would have. The point is, Joseph believed and acted. And when the angel came a third time and told him to make the long trek back to Nazareth, he acted again.

Joseph certainly did a lot of walking. From Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt and back again. Paul said we walk by faith, not by sight. Joseph is a model of faith because he keeps walking, even in the dark.

Marcellino D' Ambrosio, aka "Dr. Italy,” writes from Texas. Connect with him at dritaly.com or on social media@dritaly.

"Holy Joseph guardian of Mary and the Infant Jesus on that long dark journey to Bethlehem, Egypt and return to Nazareth, guard and guide us safely in this Journey across this earthly life. Lead us across the frontier of eternity into that heavenly Nazareth, where with you, we will see the smiling face of Mary, and feel the embrace of Jesus". Fr. John O'Brien

December 2, 2016

"Dear children, my motherly heart is crying as I am looking at what my children are doing. Sins are multiplying, the purity of soul is all the less important; my Son is being forgotten - honored all the less; and my children are being persecuted. That is why, you my children, apostles of my love, with soul and heart invoke the name of my Son. He will have the words of light for you. He manifests Himself to you, He breaks the bread with you and gives you the words of love so that you may transform them into merciful acts and, thus, be witnesses of truth. That is why, my children, do not be afraid. Permit my Son to be in you. He will make use of you to care for the wounded and to convert lost souls. Therefore, my children, return to the prayer of the Rosary. Pray it with feelings of goodness, sacrifice and mercy. Pray, not only with words, but with merciful acts. Pray with love for all people. My Son, by His sacrifice, exalted love. Therefore, live with Him so that you may have strength and hope; that you may have the love which is life and which leads to eternal life. Through God's love, I am also with you, and will lead you with motherly love. Thank: you.

Our Lady gave the Holy Rosary to St. Dominic as a weapon against evil. Recourse to the Rosary saved Christians at the miraculous battle of Lepanto (1571), Vienna (1683) and Belgrade. Europe was saved from Islam.

That the Blessed Virgin was highly pleased with this prayer has been clearly evidenced by the fact that when she appeared at Lourdes to St. Bernadette, she held in her hand the Rosary. Our lady of Fatima, Portugal said to the three shepherd children, "say the Rosary every day...pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices for sinners ... I am Our Lady of the Rosary...in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph."

Pope Leo XIII 'The Rosary Pope' reigned from 1878-1903. He issued twelve encyclicals and many apostolic letters encouraging this devotion: it has the power to avert evils threatening society and the individual soul. He said, "The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer...It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings".

Pope St. John Paul II said that the Rosary is a powerful prayer for peace, for families, and for contemplating the mysteries of Christ's life. On October 16, 2002 with the Apostolic Letter Rostarium Virginis Mariae on the Most Holy Rosary he added the 'Mysteries of Light'-moments from Jesus ministry further underline the Rosary's focus on Christ.

The word Rosary means 'Crown of Roses'. Our Blessed Mother has revealed at many apparitions and to many individuals that with each Hail Mary we are giving her a beautiful rose. It's a simple prayer, humble so much like Mary. A complete Rosary makes her a crown of beautiful roses.

For three years, Austria went under tyrannical rule of communist Russia after World War II. Father Petrus remembered how Christians defeated Turks at the Battle of Lepanto through the Rosary despite being greatly outnumbered. Father launched a Rosary Crusade and 70,000 people pledge to say the Rosary daily for Austria to be freed from Russian rule. Austria was valuable because of rich resources and strategic location. In a completely unprecedented move, on May l3, 1955 the atheistic Russian regime signed an agreement to leave Austria. May 13 is the anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima, and, the same day Our Lady saved Pope John Paul II from an assassin bullet.

There were only 300 million Catholics in the world in 1950, imagine what we could do now with well over two billion Catholics. (Note: today many Protestants also say the Rosary)

Isis could easily be defeated, peace reign, and heaven rejoice.

'The church is empowered when there is great devotion to the Holy Rosary and fades when there is little devotion'.

Pope Francis recites the Rosary with the faithful during a Vigil for the Marian Jubilee

The 'Rosary is "the synthesis of the history of God’s mercy". Pope Francis recalled' this at the end of the Vigil on Saturday evening, October 8, at which he presided in St. Peter's Square, where he recited the Rosary with participants in the Marian Gubilee. The following is the English text of the Holy Father’s address, which he delivered in Italian:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In this Vigil we have pondered the fundamental moments of the life of Jesus in company with Mary. In mind and heart, we have returned to the time of the fulfillment of Christ's mission in the world. The Resurrection, as a sign of the extreme love of the Father who restores everything to life, and as a foreshadowing of our future state. The Ascension, as a sharing in the Father's glory where even our humanity finds a privileged place. Pentecost, as the expression of the Church's mission in history until the end of time, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the last two mysteries, we have also contemplated the Virgin Mary in the glory of heaven. From the earliest centuries, Mary has been invoked as Mother of mercy.

The prayer of the Rosary is, in many ways, the synthesis of the history of God's mercy, which becomes a history of salvation for all who let themselves be shaped by grace. The mysteries we have contemplated are concrete events by which God's intervention on our behalf develops. Through prayer and meditation on the life of Jesus Christ, we see once more his merciful countenance, which he shows to everyone in all the many needs of life. Mary accompanies us along this journey, pointing to her Son who radiates the very mercy of the Father. She is truly Hodegetria, the Mother who points to the path we are called to take in order to be true disciples of Jesus. In each mystery of the Rosary, we feel her closeness and we contemplate her as the first disciple of her Son, for she does the Father's will (cf. Lk 8:19-21).

Praying the Rosary does not remove us from the problems of life. On the contrary, it demands that we immerse ourselves in the history of each day, so as to grasp the signs of Christ's presence in our midst. Whenever we contemplate an event, a mystery of the life of Christ, we are asked to reflect on how God comes into our own lives, so as to be able to welcome him and follow hm. In this way, we discover how we can follow Christ by serving our brothers and sister. By accepting and making our own certain outstanding events in the life of Jesus, we share in his works of evangelization, so  that God's Kingdom can increase and spread in the world. We are disciples, but also missionaries bringing Christ wherever he asks us to be present. So we cannot keep the gift of his presence within us. On the contrary, we are called to share with everyone his love, his tenderness, his goodness and his mercy. It is the joy of sharing that stops at nothing, for it brings a message of freedom and salvation. 

Mary helps us to understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Eternally chosen to be his Mother, she learned to become his disciple. Her first act was to listen to God. She obeyed the message of the Angel and opened her heart to receive the mystery of divine motherhood. She followed Jesus listening to every word that issued from his lips (cf. Mk 3:31-35). She kept all those things in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19) and became the living memory of the signs worked by God's Son to awaken our faith. But is not enough simply to listen. That is certainly the first step, but listening then needs to be translated into concrete action. The disciple truly puts his life at the service of the Gospel.

So it is that the Virgin Mary went immediately to Elizabeth to help her in her pregnancy (cf. Lk 1: 39-56). In Bethlehem she gave birth to the Son of God (cf. Lk 2:1-7). In Cana she showed her concern for two young spouses (cf. Jn 2:1-11). At Golgotha she did not flee pain but stood beneath the cross of Jesus and by his will, became the Mother of the Church (cf. Jn 19:25-27). After the resurrection, she encouraged the Apostles assembled in the Upper Room as they awaited the Holy Spirit who would make them fearless heralds of the Gospel (cf. Acts I: 14). Throughout her life Mary did everything that the Church is asked to do in perennial memory of Christ. In her faith, we learn to open our hearts to obey God; in her self-denial we see the Importance of tending to the needs of others; in her tears, we find the strength to console those experiencing pain. In each of these moments, Mary expresses the wealth of divine mercy that reaches out to all in their daily needs.

This evening let us invoke our loving heavenly Mother with the oldest prayer that Christians have addressed to her, especially at times of trouble and martyrdom. Let us invoke her, in the certainty of being aided by her maternal mercy, so that she, "glorious and blessed", can be a protection, help and blessing for us all the days of our life:

"We fly to your protection, holy Mother of God. Scorn not our petitions in the hour of need. 0 glorious and blessed Virgin, deliver us always from every peril.

L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO NUMBER 41, 

Friday, 14 October 2016

What is the meaning of the "secret" of Fatima?

I would like finally to mention another key expression of the "secret" which has become justly famous: "my Immaculate Heart will triumph". What does this mean? The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind, The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because it brought the Saviour into the world-because, thanks to her Yes, God could become man in our world and remains so for all time. The Evil One has power in this world, as we see and experience continually; he has power because our freedom continually lets itself be led away from God. But since God himself took a human heart and has thus steered human freedom towards what is good, the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word. From that time forth, the word that prevails is this: "In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise.

Fatima, May 13, 2000. Third secret of Fatima reveled by Pope John Paul II.

Interpreted by Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger) prefect for Doctrine of the Faith

The Indian Woman

The American traveler William Kirby (1759-1850) was on his way home from an expedition along the Hudson Bay, Canada. There he found an Indian woman covered with wounds and completely exhausted. He immediately bound up her wounds and had her taken care of. Then he put various questions to her. For he was surprised to find her in these parts with a suckling babe in her arms, since she belonged to a certain Indian tribe, which lived several hundred miles away. She told him her story. Her tribe had gone to war with another tribe, and she with others was obliged to flee. Finally, becoming exhausted, she had remained behind with her child. That was how she happened to be in this particular region.

"And the wounds?" asked he. "Did you receive them in battle?"

"Oh, no," she replied smiling. "I have inflicted these wounds upon myself." She pointed to a home-made fish-hook lying nearby.

"The flesh on the fish-hook I took from my arm just before you came." He looked a the with horror.    

She continued her story, "I have not eaten for three days, my breasts are dried up. The child is near death from starvation. What could I do? I tore the flesh from my body for bait to catch a few fish so that I might again give nourishment to my child.

What astonishing mother love on the part of a wild Indian woman! The mother is undoubtedly the greatest treasure on earth for the child. You see the peace that suddenly settles on the countenance of the squalling youngster, when its little mouth has finally found it mother's breast.

‘There is no greater love than between mother and child' 'The Mother'- Cardinal Mindszenty

Holy Rosary Opportunities: All make Great Gifts for friends, family, and indirectly, to God.

"The Rosary, The Prayers That Saved My Life"

For a very intimate look into a heart filled with love; introduce your family and friends to 'The Rosary' and others books by Immaculee Ilibagiza. They are all educational and inspiring for teenagers and young adults. She won the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace, 2007.

You can order her 'Seven Sorrows Rosary' CD, books, or receive her uplifting newsletter at Immaculee.com or, via, P.O. Box 4075 Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10063 USA

An excellent tape by Dana, the Irish singer, and her brother-in-law Father Scallon on 'The Rosary' and The Healing Rosary are available thru: dsmusicproductions.com, or, DS Music, P.O. Box 630 Southington, CT 06489. 1-877-376-8942

These three Rosary CD's mentioned are great companions in saying the Rosary

St. Michaels Church, DuBois: Holy Rosary for families every Tuesdays at 6 P.M.

Holy Rosary during Adoration 6:30 P.M. every Wednesday. Individuals needed to be with Our Lord during Adoration – (A devotion approved by Pope Leo XIII) Wednesday from 9A.M. - 9P.M. For information phone: Biz at 814-371-1217

Many opportunities with E.W.T.N.

You can find the truth on E.W.T.N. T.V. and Radio News. Holy Rosary: 7:30 & 11:30 AM.,

9:30P.M.  Daily Mass; 8 AM., 12 & 7 P.M.

Daily Mass: 8 AM., 12 P.M., and 7 P.M.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy: 3 P.M. daily; (The Hour of Divine Mercy) Nightly News 6 & 9 P.M. (followed by The Holy Rosary)

God loves you! That is the way I shall conclude my broadcasts, and that is the way I shall begin them today. I want the first word on the air of this New Year to be God. It is God who makes us happy. It is Love which makes old things new. It is you who count the years in terms of God's abiding love. Combining all three we have "God love you," which is but another way of saying, "Happy New Year".    Archbishop Bl. Fulton J. Sheen

(Please a say a little prayer in your heart for his canonization)

Happy New Year from The Holy Family (theholyfamilyinc.com)

To hear Our Lady's Message by phone-1-814-787-5683 (love, 2417)

The Holy Family, P.O. Box 442, St. Marys, PA 15857

Our Lady Queen of Peace asks us to please help spread her messages of love.

Feel free to copy and pass on to others.

"If you knew how much I love you, you would cry for joy".

June 24, 2013 Our Lady Queen of Peace to Ivanka