Friday, March 22, 2013
Run With Life: Gestational Legislation: a morally sound strategy
Run With Life: Gestational Legislation: a morally sound strategy: In the most recent issue of the Guelph and Area Right to Life newsletter, there is an (unsigned) front page article on gestational legislat...
Monday, March 4, 2013
Lenten Mission; Annunciation of the Lord Parish: March 3 - 5 from 7:30 tp 9:00 PM
Parish Lenten Mission; Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Ottawa, ON, Canada
March 3 - 5 from 7:30 tp 9:00 PM
During this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI has called for the whole Church to have an encounter with Christ. Encounter Jesus, our Eucharistic Lord, who strengthens and transforms us as we offer our lives to Him. Through a rediscovery of the gift of faith the Lord wants to grant each one of us renewed joy and enthusiasm for communicating the faith to others.
Schedule 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.,
Sunday - Reasons to Believe: Why it is reasonable to believe in Jesus
Monday - Offering your life to God: the Eucharist as Sacrifice
Tuesday - Drawing new life from Jesus: the Eucharist as a Sacred Banquet
Followed by Adoration...
Speaker
Fr. Terry Donahue, CC is the Director of Lay Formation and Chaplain to the Lay Associates for the Companions of the Cross. Ordained to the priesthood in 2000, Fr. Terry has since taught 15 lay formation courses on topics in apologetics, spirituality, Ignatian discernment and evangelization. He also teaches high school Religion at Maryvale Academy, an independent Catholic school in Ottawa. He is also a presenter on the Food for Life television program and the weekly Reasons to Believe program on Radio Maria. Fr. Terry has a strong background in science and technology, having received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and having worked for five years as a computer graphics programmer.
Below is the link to Father Terry's Sunday homily from the parish website
Encountering Jesus through the Eucharist
March 3 - 5 from 7:30 tp 9:00 PM
During this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI has called for the whole Church to have an encounter with Christ. Encounter Jesus, our Eucharistic Lord, who strengthens and transforms us as we offer our lives to Him. Through a rediscovery of the gift of faith the Lord wants to grant each one of us renewed joy and enthusiasm for communicating the faith to others.
Schedule 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.,
Sunday - Reasons to Believe: Why it is reasonable to believe in Jesus
Monday - Offering your life to God: the Eucharist as Sacrifice
Tuesday - Drawing new life from Jesus: the Eucharist as a Sacred Banquet
Followed by Adoration...
Speaker
Fr. Terry Donahue, CC is the Director of Lay Formation and Chaplain to the Lay Associates for the Companions of the Cross. Ordained to the priesthood in 2000, Fr. Terry has since taught 15 lay formation courses on topics in apologetics, spirituality, Ignatian discernment and evangelization. He also teaches high school Religion at Maryvale Academy, an independent Catholic school in Ottawa. He is also a presenter on the Food for Life television program and the weekly Reasons to Believe program on Radio Maria. Fr. Terry has a strong background in science and technology, having received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and having worked for five years as a computer graphics programmer.
Below is the link to Father Terry's Sunday homily from the parish website
Encountering Jesus through the Eucharist
First Evening
Session 1 - Sunday March 3, 2013, 7:30 - 9:00 -
Reasons to Believe: Why it is reasonable to believe in Jesus
Session 1- Questions and Answers
Session 1 - Praise and Worship
Second Evening
Choir leads the hymn
Only This I Want by Dan Schutte
Choir leads the hymn
No Greater Love by Michael Joncas
Session 2 - Monday March 4th 2013. 7:30 - 9:00PM
Conclusion of Second session and closing Hymn
Lord You Have Come to the Seashore
Third Evening
Third Session Monday March 5, 2013
Song led by the choir
I Surrender it all to Jesus
Song led by the choir
All who are Thirsty
Session 1 - Praise and Worship
Second Evening
Choir leads the hymn
Only This I Want by Dan Schutte
Choir leads the hymn
No Greater Love by Michael Joncas
Session 2 - Monday March 4th 2013. 7:30 - 9:00PM
Conclusion of Second session and closing Hymn
Lord You Have Come to the Seashore
Third Evening
Third Session Monday March 5, 2013
Song led by the choir
I Surrender it all to Jesus
Song led by the choir
All who are Thirsty
Labels:
Companions of the Cross,
Creation.,
Faith. Jesus Christ,
Father Terry Donahue,
Lenten Mission
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Bishop Fred Henry endorses WeNeedALaw campaign!
Bishop Fred Henry endorses campaign!
Bishop Frederick Henry of the Catholic Diocese of Calgary has joined Archbishop J. Michael Miller in endorsing the WeNeedaLAW.ca campaign.
Campaign director, Mike Schouten received this statement from Bishop Henry:
"Since the 1988 ruling in Regina v. Morgentaler, Canada has had no abortion law. Canadian history has shown that we make the law (or seek justice) in our image and likeness where there is no external standard, and worse still, the rationale for having an abortion multiplies. This is intolerable. It is time for everyone to support the campaign and goals of WeNeedaLAW.ca.”
“We are grateful to Bishop Henry for his support. He clearly understands that if we are to effect change in Canada we need to do so incrementally,” said Schouten.
“The goal of WeNeedaLAW.ca is to restrict abortion to the greatest extent possible, and it is very encouraging that Bishop Henry believes we can be successful in limiting the harm of abortion by implementing gestational laws,” continued Schouten.
Bishop Frederick Henry is the third high level Roman Catholic official to endorse the political strategy of WeNeedaLAW.ca. Last August, Archbishop J. Michael Miller of the Vancouver Archdiocese issued a statement outlining reasons as to why Roman Catholics could support gestational legislation. Archbishop Miller’s statement was affirmed by Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto a week later.
“On behalf of the WeNeedaLAW.ca campaign, I thank these religious leaders for their understanding of prudential politics and their passion for the protection of the lives of pre-born children in our country,” concluded Schouten.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Run With Life: Who can be against justice?
Run With Life: Who can be against justice?: The pro-abortions are at it again. Tomorrow they will "celebrate" 25 years of "Reproductive Justice". That's the day that the Morgentaler...
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Prayer to the Apostle Paul
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Labels:
Conversion of Paul,
Prayer to Saint paul,
Saint Paul
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
ARCHBISHOP AQUILA: 40 Years of the Culture of Death
ARCHBISHOP AQUILA: 40 Years of the Culture of Death
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I went to college in 1968 with the idea of becoming a doctor, like my father. College campuses in the late ‘60’s and throughout the 70’s were places of turmoil. I didn’t practice my faith much in the first three years of college and I certainly never imagined that the Lord would one day make me a bishop.
I spent my first three years of college working as a hospital orderly and assisting in the emergency room, at a university student health center and in a hospital in California during summer break.
When I began the job, I hadn’t thought much about human suffering, or about human dignity.
But during my employment in hospitals, something changed. At that time, some states had approved abortion laws that I wasn’t even aware of. Because of those laws, when I was in college I witnessed the results of two abortions.
The first was in a surgical unit. I walked into an outer room and in the sink, unattended, was the body of small unborn child who had been aborted. I remember being stunned. I remember thinking that I had to baptize that child.
To continue click here
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I went to college in 1968 with the idea of becoming a doctor, like my father. College campuses in the late ‘60’s and throughout the 70’s were places of turmoil. I didn’t practice my faith much in the first three years of college and I certainly never imagined that the Lord would one day make me a bishop.
I spent my first three years of college working as a hospital orderly and assisting in the emergency room, at a university student health center and in a hospital in California during summer break.
When I began the job, I hadn’t thought much about human suffering, or about human dignity.
But during my employment in hospitals, something changed. At that time, some states had approved abortion laws that I wasn’t even aware of. Because of those laws, when I was in college I witnessed the results of two abortions.
The first was in a surgical unit. I walked into an outer room and in the sink, unattended, was the body of small unborn child who had been aborted. I remember being stunned. I remember thinking that I had to baptize that child.
To continue click here
Monday, January 14, 2013
Diaconal Ordination of Carl L Reid January 12 2013
See the Archbishop's blog at link below
http://archbishopterry.blogspot.ca/2013/01/diaconal-ordination-of-carl-l-reid.html
http://archbishopterry.blogspot.ca/2013/01/diaconal-ordination-of-carl-l-reid.html
Friday, January 11, 2013
Carl Reid's diaconate and priestly ordination
Here is a late notice for those who may not know about Carl Reid's diaconate and priestly ordination
( He is the former Anglican Church Bishop who has come home to the Catholic Church recently with his entire congregation).
If possible come and support this humble man by attending the following:
1) his diaconate TOMORROW morning, January 12th at 10 am at Saint Patrick's Basilica on Kent Street; and
2) his ordination to the priesthood on January 26th at 10 am at Notre Dame.
1) his diaconate TOMORROW morning, January 12th at 10 am at Saint Patrick's Basilica on Kent Street; and
2) his ordination to the priesthood on January 26th at 10 am at Notre Dame.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Ultimately faith is the only key to the universe: New Faith Based blog from Patricia Maloney
Ultimately faith is the only key to the universe: The title of this blog is a quote from Thomas Mert...: The title of this blog is a quote from Thomas Merton from his book New Seeds of Contemplation . I will post my faith based entries here ...
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas 2012 - Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Ottawa Ontario
Christmas Eve Mass, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Ottawa, ( highlights)
___________________________________________________________________________
Father Jerry's Homily
Labels:
Annunciation of the Lord Parish Ottawa,
Birth of Jesus,
Christmas,
Christmas 2012,
Father Jerry Gauvreau C.C.,
Jesus,
Mass,
Saviour
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Hymne a Notre Dame de Guadalupe - Isabelle O'Connor
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Labels:
Armando Prini,
Hymne a Notre Dame de Guadalupe,
Isabelle O'Connor,
Notre Dame Cathedral Ottawa,
Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Pilgrimage of Masses,
Pro Life,
Pro Life Doctors,
Ward O'Connor
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Saint Juan Diego Pray for Us
Today's feast anticipates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Wednesday,.
St. Juan Diego was born in 1474 in Cuauhtitlan, located 20 kilometers north of Mexico City.
On December 9, 1531, a native Mexican named Juan Diego rose before dawn to walk fifteen miles to daily Mass in what is now Mexico City. Juan lived a simple life as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. That morning, as Juan passed Tepeyac Hill, he heard music and saw a glowing cloud encircled by a rainbow.
A woman's voice called him to the top of the hill. There he saw a beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess. She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell the bishop to build a church on that site. She said, "I vividly desire that a church be built on this site, so that in it I can be present and give my love, compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most devoted mother . . . to hear your laments and to remedy all your miseries, pains, and suffering.
The bishop was kind but skeptical. He asked Juan to bring proof of the Lady's identity. Before Juan could go back to the Lady, he found out his uncle was dying. Hurrying to get a priest, Juan missed his meeting with the Lady. The Lady, however, met him on his path and told him that his uncle had been cured.
She then told Juan to climb to the top of the hill where they first met. Juan was shocked to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered them in his cloak and took them at once to the bishop
Juan told the bishop what had happened and opened his cloak. The flowers that fell to the ground were Castilian roses (which were not grown in Mexico). But the bishop's eyes were on the glowing image of the Lady imprinted inside Juan's cloak.
Soon after, a church was built on the site where our Lady appeared, and thousands converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of the Americas.
Juan Diego deeply loved the Holy Eucharist, and by special permission of the Bishop he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual occurrence in those times
He died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74
Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith nourished by catechesis and pictured him (who said to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf”) as a model of humility for all of us
Pope John Paul II's homily during Juan Diego's canonization
I thank you, Father ... that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was your gracious will" (Mt 11:25-26).
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
These words of Jesus in today's Gospel are a special invitation to us to praise and thank God for the gift of the first indigenous Saint of the American Continent.
With deep joy I have come on pilgrimage to this Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Marian heart of Mexico and of America, to proclaim the holiness of Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, the simple, humble Indian who contemplated the sweet and serene face of Our Lady of Tepeyac, so dear to the people of Mexico....
Today I address a very affectionate greeting to the many indigenous people who have come from the different regions of the country, representing the various ethnic groups and cultures which make up the rich, multifaceted Mexican reality. The Pope expresses his closeness to them, his deep respect and admiration, and receives them fraternally in the Lord's name.
What was Juan Diego like? Why did God look upon him? The Book of Sirach, as we have heard, teaches us that God alone "is mighty; he is glorified by the humble" (cf. Sir 3:20). Saint Paul's words, also proclaimed at this celebration, shed light on the divine way of bringing about salvation: "God chose what is low and despised in the world ... so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cor 1:28,29).
It is moving to read the accounts of Guadalupe, sensitively written and steeped in tenderness. In them the Virgin Mary, the handmaid "who glorified the Lord" (Lk 1:46), reveals herself to Juan Diego as the Mother of the true God. As a sign, she gives him precious roses, and as he shows them to the Bishop, he discovers the blessed image of Our Lady imprinted on his tilma.
"The Guadalupe Event," as the Mexican Episcopate has pointed out, "meant the beginning of evangelization with a vitality that surpassed all expectations. Christ's message, through his Mother, took up the central elements of the indigenous culture, purified them and gave them the definitive sense of salvation" (14 May 2002, No. 8).
Consequently Guadalupe and Juan Diego have a deep ecclesial and missionary meaning and are a model of perfectly inculturated evangelization.
"The Lord looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men" (Ps 33:13), we recited with the Psalmist, once again confessing our faith in God, who makes no distinctions of race or culture.
In accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruitful meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expresses her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans.
This is why the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values, and traditions.
The noble task of building a better Mexico, with greater justice and solidarity, demands the cooperation of all. In particular, it is necessary today to support the indigenous peoples in their legitimate aspirations, respecting and defending the authentic values of each ethnic group. Mexico needs its indigenous peoples and these peoples need Mexico!
Beloved bothers and sisters of every ethnic background of Mexico and America, today, in praising the Indian Juan Diego, I want to express to all of you the closeness of the Church and the Pope, embracing you with love and encouraging you to overcome with hope the difficult times you are going through.
At this decisive moment in Mexico's history, having already crossed the threshold of the new millennium, I entrust to the powerful intercession of Saint Juan Diego the joys and hopes, the fears and anxieties of the beloved Mexican people, whom I carry in my heart.
Blessed Juan Diego, a good, Christian Indian, whom simple people have always considered a saint! We ask you to accompany the Church on her pilgrimage in Mexico, so that she may be more evangelizing and more missionary each day. Encourage the Bishops, support the priests, inspire new and holy vocations, help all those who give their lives to the cause of Christ and the spread of his Kingdom.
Happy Juan Diego, true and faithful man! We entrust to you our lay brothers and sisters so that, feeling the call to holiness, they may imbue every area of social life with the spirit of the Gospel. Bless families, strengthen spouses in their marriage, sustain the efforts of parents to give their children a Christian upbringing. Look with favor upon the pain of those who are suffering in body or in spirit, on those afflicted by poverty, loneliness, marginalization, or ignorance. May all people, civic leaders and ordinary citizens, always act in accordance with the demands of justice and with respect for the dignity of each person, so that in this way peace may be reinforced.
Beloved Juan Diego, "the talking eagle"! Show us the way that leads to the "Dark Virgin" of Tepeyac, that she may receive us in the depths of her heart, for she is the loving, compassionate Mother who guides us to the true God. Amen
St. Juan Diego was born in 1474 in Cuauhtitlan, located 20 kilometers north of Mexico City.
On December 9, 1531, a native Mexican named Juan Diego rose before dawn to walk fifteen miles to daily Mass in what is now Mexico City. Juan lived a simple life as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. That morning, as Juan passed Tepeyac Hill, he heard music and saw a glowing cloud encircled by a rainbow.
A woman's voice called him to the top of the hill. There he saw a beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess. She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked Juan to tell the bishop to build a church on that site. She said, "I vividly desire that a church be built on this site, so that in it I can be present and give my love, compassion, help, and defense, for I am your most devoted mother . . . to hear your laments and to remedy all your miseries, pains, and suffering.
The bishop was kind but skeptical. He asked Juan to bring proof of the Lady's identity. Before Juan could go back to the Lady, he found out his uncle was dying. Hurrying to get a priest, Juan missed his meeting with the Lady. The Lady, however, met him on his path and told him that his uncle had been cured.
She then told Juan to climb to the top of the hill where they first met. Juan was shocked to find flowers growing in the frozen soil. He gathered them in his cloak and took them at once to the bishop
Juan told the bishop what had happened and opened his cloak. The flowers that fell to the ground were Castilian roses (which were not grown in Mexico). But the bishop's eyes were on the glowing image of the Lady imprinted inside Juan's cloak.
Soon after, a church was built on the site where our Lady appeared, and thousands converted to Christianity. Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared the patroness of the Americas.
Juan Diego deeply loved the Holy Eucharist, and by special permission of the Bishop he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual occurrence in those times
He died on May 30, 1548, at the age of 74
Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith nourished by catechesis and pictured him (who said to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf”) as a model of humility for all of us
Pope John Paul II's homily during Juan Diego's canonization
I thank you, Father ... that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was your gracious will" (Mt 11:25-26).
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
These words of Jesus in today's Gospel are a special invitation to us to praise and thank God for the gift of the first indigenous Saint of the American Continent.
With deep joy I have come on pilgrimage to this Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Marian heart of Mexico and of America, to proclaim the holiness of Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, the simple, humble Indian who contemplated the sweet and serene face of Our Lady of Tepeyac, so dear to the people of Mexico....
Today I address a very affectionate greeting to the many indigenous people who have come from the different regions of the country, representing the various ethnic groups and cultures which make up the rich, multifaceted Mexican reality. The Pope expresses his closeness to them, his deep respect and admiration, and receives them fraternally in the Lord's name.
What was Juan Diego like? Why did God look upon him? The Book of Sirach, as we have heard, teaches us that God alone "is mighty; he is glorified by the humble" (cf. Sir 3:20). Saint Paul's words, also proclaimed at this celebration, shed light on the divine way of bringing about salvation: "God chose what is low and despised in the world ... so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cor 1:28,29).
It is moving to read the accounts of Guadalupe, sensitively written and steeped in tenderness. In them the Virgin Mary, the handmaid "who glorified the Lord" (Lk 1:46), reveals herself to Juan Diego as the Mother of the true God. As a sign, she gives him precious roses, and as he shows them to the Bishop, he discovers the blessed image of Our Lady imprinted on his tilma.
"The Guadalupe Event," as the Mexican Episcopate has pointed out, "meant the beginning of evangelization with a vitality that surpassed all expectations. Christ's message, through his Mother, took up the central elements of the indigenous culture, purified them and gave them the definitive sense of salvation" (14 May 2002, No. 8).
Consequently Guadalupe and Juan Diego have a deep ecclesial and missionary meaning and are a model of perfectly inculturated evangelization.
"The Lord looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men" (Ps 33:13), we recited with the Psalmist, once again confessing our faith in God, who makes no distinctions of race or culture.
In accepting the Christian message without forgoing his indigenous identity, Juan Diego discovered the profound truth of the new humanity, in which all are called to be children of God. Thus he facilitated the fruitful meeting of two worlds and became the catalyst for the new Mexican identity, closely united to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose mestizo face expresses her spiritual motherhood which embraces all Mexicans.
This is why the witness of his life must continue to be the inspiration for the building up of the Mexican nation, encouraging brotherhood among all its children and ever helping to reconcile Mexico with its origins, values, and traditions.
The noble task of building a better Mexico, with greater justice and solidarity, demands the cooperation of all. In particular, it is necessary today to support the indigenous peoples in their legitimate aspirations, respecting and defending the authentic values of each ethnic group. Mexico needs its indigenous peoples and these peoples need Mexico!
Beloved bothers and sisters of every ethnic background of Mexico and America, today, in praising the Indian Juan Diego, I want to express to all of you the closeness of the Church and the Pope, embracing you with love and encouraging you to overcome with hope the difficult times you are going through.
At this decisive moment in Mexico's history, having already crossed the threshold of the new millennium, I entrust to the powerful intercession of Saint Juan Diego the joys and hopes, the fears and anxieties of the beloved Mexican people, whom I carry in my heart.
Blessed Juan Diego, a good, Christian Indian, whom simple people have always considered a saint! We ask you to accompany the Church on her pilgrimage in Mexico, so that she may be more evangelizing and more missionary each day. Encourage the Bishops, support the priests, inspire new and holy vocations, help all those who give their lives to the cause of Christ and the spread of his Kingdom.
Happy Juan Diego, true and faithful man! We entrust to you our lay brothers and sisters so that, feeling the call to holiness, they may imbue every area of social life with the spirit of the Gospel. Bless families, strengthen spouses in their marriage, sustain the efforts of parents to give their children a Christian upbringing. Look with favor upon the pain of those who are suffering in body or in spirit, on those afflicted by poverty, loneliness, marginalization, or ignorance. May all people, civic leaders and ordinary citizens, always act in accordance with the demands of justice and with respect for the dignity of each person, so that in this way peace may be reinforced.
Beloved Juan Diego, "the talking eagle"! Show us the way that leads to the "Dark Virgin" of Tepeyac, that she may receive us in the depths of her heart, for she is the loving, compassionate Mother who guides us to the true God. Amen
Labels:
Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Saint Juan Diego
History of the Miraculous Medal
Miraculous Medal
from
the book: 33 Days to Morning Glory
by
Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC pg. 2169,170
Like the scapular, the miraculous medal is a
sacramental. It originated from an apparition of Mary to St. Catherine Laboure,
a French nun, living in Paris. The specific apparition that has to do with the
miraculous medal occurred on November 27th, 1830.
In that vision of November 27, St. Catherine saw Mary
standing on a half-globe, with a serpent crushed beneath her feet and her hands
bejewelled with rings, holding a small golden globe with a cross on it. Bright light shone from some of the jewels on
her fingers. Suddenly, the small golden
globe disappeared from Mary’s hands, and she opened her arms outward. The light
from the jewels extended out from her hands and a semi-circle frame with an
inscription in gold: “O,Mary,
conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
The vision seemed to rotate and on the reverse side.
Catherine saw the letter “M” with a
cross on it and surrounded by twelve stars. The cross stood on a horizontal
bar. Under the “M” were two hearts engulfed in flames, one encircled in thorns,
and one pierced by a sword.
Mary then told Catherine, “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive
great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck.”
Mary explained the meaning of the medal to Catherine
as follows. Mary is Queen of heaven and
earth. She crushes Satan who is helpless
before her, under her foot. ( see Gen.
3:15 ). Her arms are open and the many rays of light are graces she obtains for
those who request them. The dark jewels, the ones that are not full of light,
represent the graces that are available but that people don’t receive because
they don’t ask for them.
The inscription, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,”
refers to Mary’s Immaculate Conception, which means that from the first moment
of her conception, she was free from all stain of original sin.
On the back of the medal, the twelve stars which surround
Mary, represent the twelve Apostles, who represent the whole Church. The “M” is
for Mary and the cross is the Cross of Christ, the symbol of our redemption.
The horizontal bar represents the earth. The placement of the cross and the bar
on, and in the letter “M” shows Mary’s participation in the Cross of Christ and
in our world. The two hearts are those of Jesus and Mary burning with love for
us all.
With the Church’s approval, the first “Medals of the
Immaculate Conception” were made in 1832, and almost immediately reports of
miraculous cures began to spring up so much so that the medal became known as
the “miraculous medal”
Since the time of the apparitions, millions of
medals have been distributed around the world, especially by people like
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. It’s reported that her Missionaries of
Charity currently distribute 1.8 million medals per year.
The miraculous medal received liturgical approbation
( special recognition and approval for public prayer) at the direction of Aloisi
Cardinal Masella, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, in 1895. It’s
one of only three sacramentals in the Church to be so liturgically honored,
sharing this distinction with the rosary and the brown scapular.
Far from being a good luck charm or superstition,
powerful conversions have taken place through Mary’s intercession and the use
of the miraculous medal.
One of the most famous conversions happened to
Alphonse Ratisbonne, a Jewish atheist, on January 20, 1842. He despised the
Church and the Catholic faith, especially since his older brother Theodor
converted to Catholicism and became a Catholic priest. On a dare from a
Catholic friend, Baron de Bussieres Ratisbonne began to wear the miraculous
medal and to recite the Memorare
prayer to prove the fruitlessness of what he thought were just the ridiculous
superstitions of the Catholic religion.
On January 20th, Ratisbonne accompanied Baron de Bussiers into
a church, what is now the Basilica of St. Andres delle Fratte in Rome, where
the Baron had some business to attend to. When the Baron returned to him, he
found Ratisbonne weeping and kissing his medal saying, “I saw her! I saw her!”
Labels:
33 Days to Morning Glory,
Father Jerry Gauvreau,
Fr. Michael E. Gaitley,
Immaculate Conception,
Mary,
miracles
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Homily
Father Jerry Gauvreau C.C.
Annunciation of the Lord Parish,
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Immaculate Conception Dec. 8th
The
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is truly a most beautiful
Solemnity we celebrate today, especially in the Church’s Year of Faith.
Our Blessed
Mother Mary not only shows us how to have Faith in God but also how to step out
into expectant Faith all the while believing in ourselves!
In 1830,
Our Blessed Mother appeared to a young girl by the name of Catherine Laboure.
In these
apparitions, it was Mary who revealed or instructed Catherine to have the
Miraculous medal made – Catherine spoke
to her Spiritual Director and it was then proposed to the Archbishop (of Paris)
who agreed and allowed the medal to be made.
For a more
detailed explanation see the book: 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael E.
Gaitley, MIC pg. 169,170
Back of the
medal: letter M with a Cross above it and a crossbar below it - 12 Stars (apostles)
circling this and under the letter M there are 2 hearts – Sacred Heart with
crown of thorns & Immaculate Heart, pierced by a sword.
On the front
of the medal; Mary as the Immaculate Conception with the date 1830 and circling
Mary are words inscribed which say: “Mary conceived without sin, pray for us
who have recourse to thee.” (recourse-turning to thee – turning to someone for
help)
The
Miraculous medal back then was actually known as the medal of the Immaculate
Conception but due to so many cures and miracles people started to call it the
Miraculous Medal.
At the time
of Our Lady appearing to St. Catherine in 1830 the Immaculate Conception of
Mary was widely believed throughout the Church but it wasn’t a dogma of our
faith.
Around 1847
it was Pope Pius IX who consulted with the Cardinals and the theologians of the
church to help him discern whether or not the Immaculate Conception should be
defined as a dogma of the Church - the Cardinals agreed and then over 603
bishops of the world were asked for their input – 543 agreed (4 said no and the
rest abstained) on Dec.8th 1854.
The definition itself reads as follows: "We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instant of her conception by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful."
The definition itself reads as follows: "We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instant of her conception by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful."
Just 4
years later in 1858 this dogma of our Faith was confirmed in the Marian
Apparitions to St. Bernadette in Lourdes. After persistent requests from St. Bernadette as to who she was
Mary said to her: “I am the Immaculate
Conception.”
Just to
re-cap: The apparitions of Our Blessed
Mother to St. Catherine back in 1830 about the Miraculous Medal prepared us for
the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, and the apparitions at Lourdes
to St. Bernadette in 1858 confirmed it.
Turn to
Mary today with open hearts for it is when we have open hearts that the Lord
will fill them up with Himself
Last night
at the CCO Summit – which consisted of a talk, Eucharistic Adoration, praise
and worship and confessions, the young lady who spoke challenged all of us to
Prepare Him room – "are we doing it?” she asked
Mary said
Yes – why can`t we? What’s holding us
back?
A few years
ago in one of Our Blessed Mother’s messages (during Lent) from Medugorje, Mary,
Our Lady Queen of Peace said: "our
freedom is our weakness."
This Advent and in the church’s Year of Faith I would like all of us to use our freedom as our strength – choose Jesus!
This Advent and in the church’s Year of Faith I would like all of us to use our freedom as our strength – choose Jesus!
I encourage
everyone today to turn to our Blessed Mother Mary. In fact, each day we need to
beg her to obtain the graces we need to totally surrender our hearts to Jesus,
to say yes to him just as she did. Pope
Benedict XVI says: Mary is Mother of the Yes.
I think
many sons & daughters would learn plenty from their mother- no question Jesus did. We need to pay attention or start paying
attention to what Our Blessed Mother is telling us. At the Wedding Feast of
Cana, Jesus turned water into wine.
Mary
instructed the servers to do whatever Jesus told them to do. This is certainly a good word for us today!
If you’re not
sure what this “do whatever he tells you
to do” is for your own life - just
ask Mary for help – ask Mary to help you love the Lord Jesus with all your
heart as she did.
Fr. Dennis
Lemieux from MH in his book, the Air We Breathe encourages us to: sit at the
feet of Mary today, to contemplate her and to ask her in silence and prayer to
teach us what we need to know about loving God – Amen!
Father Jerry Gauvreau C.C.
After Mass the Knights of Columbus led us in a beautiful Rosary for Life. Click Here to pray this rosary
Labels:
Catherine Laboure,
Father Jerry Gauvreau C.C.,
Immaculate Conception,
Lourdes,
Marian Apparitions,
Saint Bernadette
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