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October 30, 2010

 

My Way of Life

a pocket Edition of St. Thomas The Summa Simplified for Everyone
by Walter Farrell, O.P., S.T.M. and Martin J. Healy, S.T.D., pp. 243-244

THE SUPERNATURAL VIRTUES, whether theological or moral, cannot be acquired through nature or natural human action. They must be infused into man's soul by God. The infused theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, have God Himself—as He is in Himself—for their immediate object. Since this Object—God as He is in Himself—is beyond the natural powers of man, the virtues which unite man to this Object are also beyond man's powers to acquire. God Himself must give virtues to man. The infused moral virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude do not have God as He is in Himself as their immediate Object. But they are concerned with the right use of man's actions and passions in relation to the Object of the theological virtues, God in Himself. Consequently they cannot be acquired naturally by man, but must be infused by God. How God infuses these virtues will be discussed later. For the present it is sufficient to note that they must be infused by God if man is to act efficiently in the pursuit of the vision of God.

HOW DO THE VIRTUES WORK in the pursuit of happiness? Since all human action is intelligent action, it follows that every human act is directed to some goal. The perfection of any human act and the perfection of the virtue which produces the act will be measured by the goal itself or the suitability of the act to attain the goal. The virtues then will work according to the rule or measure that is proper to them.

 

                This week we celebrate All Saints
                    day and All Souls day —

                To be identified with Jesus is to wish the
                    souls to go to heaven —

                We see the vision of God — who wants souls
                    to go to heaven —
                    we work for this —

                One, who gives into satan, who wants to
                    stop those loving, uniting, etc. -
                    can operate in impurity —
                    For their self-glory —
                    For their personal affection —

                    They can be weak in their image of themselves
                        in the world and
                        through competition — distorted vision —
                        they use not right reason, but
                        tainted vision — wrong reason —
                        to see themselves as victorious
                        when they act pridefully —
                        disobediently and think they need
                        men's affection, recognition and
                        power-over others to feel good
                        about themselves —

                These affections of others do not ultimately
                    determine everlasting happiness.
                    Happiness comes more and more
                    from obedience to God and
                    seeing through His eyes —

                Wrong behavior on the point of one
                    rationalizing to continue,
                    rebelling against God's will —
                    does not justify more wrong
                    behavior —

                This thinking is far from the truth of
                    Jesus who calls us to love
                    and forgive —

                We need to forgive and to be forgiving —

                We are told in the scriptures to not let
                    the sun go down on your anger —

                Also if you have something against your
                    brother to leave your gift
                    at the altar to be reconciled
                    with your brother

                A person that holds onto anger for days
                    and days, weeks and years, justifying
                    their wrong behavior is like one
                    building a house without the
                    foundation —
                    Satan wants this — to try to get others
                    to sit down and try to force others
                    to disrespect structure and rules —

                When a person tries to disregard just
                    structure - they cut themselves
                    off from the power source and
                    now have left themselves to their
                    own will

                The Church has structure — Christ is the
                    head and we the baptized in the
                    Church are the members
                    of His mystical body —

                The Church is one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic —

                A person that lives their life and does
                    not obey just authority over them is
                    rebelling against the structure
                    making themselves the end, the
                    head, the purpose —

                Satan works this way —
                    He uses old memories from hurts in
                        the past and he tries to get
                        the person to pin their old
                        anger, jealousies, possessiveness
                        on an innocent other —

                A person - forgiving and wanting to be
                    forgiven — observes just structure —
                    recognizes through right reason
                    their faults and wants unity
                    and peace

                Satan wants combat, disharmony, pride,
                    threatening the rules established
                    by others and acting in God's will —

                How are families built, but on love —
                    If one dares to let go of selfishness
                    going out of self —

                A person justifying their wrong behavior
                    is acting as satan wants —
                    Satan wants wrong to look right —
                    Satan wants right to look wrong —

                A person can be tense
                    in anger and division they give into —
                    depriving themselves of the benefits
                        of the Mass —
                    they continue to abandon their
                heart to rationalize their wrong
                reasoning —
                    love is now, not the purpose, the
                        motive for why they act —

                Father Mike talks of passive-aggressive
                    behavior —
                    one who uses this behavior to
                        attack against God's will is
                        passive — holding out — being
                        untruthful of what really
                        happened —

                And in this passivity — holding out —
                secretly operating to make things
                    fail —
                they are attacking the person —
                    institution — deceptively —
                    hidden — tearing things apart
                    for satan — It is falsity —
                    being two-faced —

                Jesus carried His cross and showed
                    us that sufferings endured
                    in love can bring down great
                    grace —

                Jesus showed us death/resurrection —
                    the Pascal Mystery

                The person acting selfishly can throw
                    away the opportunity to help
                    bring down great grace by
                    being like Jesus in suffering —

                God is working in our lives —
                    because of the wounded human nature,
                    the human weaknesses and sins —
                    others can cause us to suffer
                    a great deal by their sins, by
                    their passive-aggressive attacks —

                To not be doing God's will passively is
                    to be acting in rebellion when
                    one is to do something God wants
                    them to do —

                Holding out in anger the materials needed to
                    do God's work or services one is to give
                    by title or vocation is an action against
                    others, the institution in wrath —

                One does not vindictively keep material
                    needed at work, to do the work
                    because of anger and punishment
                    or they will get fired —

                Anger whether acted out aggressively or
                    anger acted out passively in holding
                    out to punish, to provoke,
                    to try to bring failure to those
                    doing God's will —
                    is acting and attacking in
                    deception —

                Terrorist plan attacks in secret —
                    It is evil to do this —
                    To want others to live in fear of
                        our power to punish and
                        hurt —

                The devil acts in secrets —

                The devil wants people filled with the
                    energy of anger, pride,
                    holding out —

                Anger acted out vengefully is one of
                    the deadly sins —
                    they are deadly because they
                        rob the one acting this
                        way of life

Matthew 22: 36-40

'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?' Jesus said to him, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.'

 

Ephesians 4: 26-27

                Song: Why do We Hurt the Ones we Love

                Song: Live This Day

                Song: I am a God of Justice

Romans 5: 5-11

and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless. You could hardly find anyone ready to die even for someone upright; though it is just possible that, for a really good person, someone might undertake to die. So it is proof of God’s own love for us, that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. How much more can we be sure, therefore, that, now that we have been justified by his death, we shall be saved through him from the retribution of God. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more can we be sure that, being now reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. What is more, we are filled with exultant trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.

       

Romans 6: 3-9

You cannot have forgotten that all of us, when we were baptised into Christ Jesus, were baptised into his death. So by our baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glorious power, we too should begin living a new life. If we have been joined to him by dying a death like his, so we shall be by a resurrection like his; realising that our former self was crucified with him, so that the self which belonged to sin should be destroyed and we should be freed from the slavery of sin. Someone who has died, of course, no longer has to answer for sin. 

    But we believe that, if we died with Christ, then we shall live with him too. We know that Christ has been raised from the dead and will never die again. Death has no power over him any more.

Matthew 25: 34

Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.

John 6: 37-40

Everyone whom the Father gives me
   will come to me;
I will certainly not reject
anyone who comes to me,
because I have come from heaven,
not to do my own will,
but to do the will of him who sent me.
Now the will of him who sent me
is that I should lose nothing
of all that he has given to me,
but that I should raise it up
   on the last day.
It is my Father's will
that whoever sees the Son
   and believes in him
should have eternal life,
and that I should raise that person up
   on the last day.

Philippians 2: 12-18

So, my dear friends, you have always been obedient; your obedience must not be limited to times when I am present. Now that I am absent it must be more in evidence, so work out your salvation in fear and trembling. It is God who, for his own generous purpose, gives you the intention and the powers to act. Let your behaviour be free of murmuring and complaining so that you remain faultless and pure, unspoilt children of God surrounded by a deceitful and underhand brood, shining out among them like bright stars in the world, proffering to it the Word of life. Then I shall have reason to be proud on the Day of Christ, for it will not be for nothing that I have run the race and toiled so hard. Indeed, even if my blood has to be poured as a libation over your sacrifice and the offering of your faith, then I shall be glad and join in your rejoicing- and in the same way, you must be glad and join in my rejoicing.

   

Luke 14: 25-33

Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them. 'Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple. No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple.

'And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, anyone who saw it would start making fun of him and saying, "Here is someone who started to build and was unable to finish." Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who was advancing against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple without giving up all that he owns.

                If we want eternal life we are to
                    plan now —
                    to have what God requires —
                    Living according to God's will —
                    Loving —

Matthew 19: 27-29

Then Peter answered and said, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to them, ‘In truth I tell you, when everything is made new again and the Son of man is seated on his throne of glory, you yourselves will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times as much, and also inherit eternal life.

                Jesus: Follow Me
                Follow Me
                Follow Me —

                I obeyed My Father's will to My death
                    on the cross
                My way is love —
                I am love —

                You cannot hate your brother — be
                    envious — act hatefully and
                    say, you are serving Me —
                    You are a fool —
                    What you sow — so shall you
                        reap —

                What you plant will be your yield —

                A man opened a bank account and
                    then began to try to play games
                    with the bank —

                The man lost for all his evil deeds —
                His hands and heart was tainted —

                Instead of acting straight forwardly —
                    his ways were twisted —
                    rebellious — angry — to
                    see if he could win while
                    he was playing games with
                    the bank —

                I give you a message Mary delivered
                    long ago with the image —

                Jesus: Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and
                    your 'no' be 'no'

                St. Paul says

                R. St. Paul after his experience of the light of
                    conversion did not deny his horrendous
                    sin of persecuting the Christians previous —
                    he was so sorry for his sin —
                    he worked tirelessly, then, for God —
                    his words speak to us today.

• St. Luke says 15: 1-10
   

Luke 15: 1-10

The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him, and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable:

‘Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety–nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost." In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety–nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost." In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

                Jesus: I died for your sins —
                    Why are you so selfish to partake
                        in evil — disregarding
                        I paid the price for your
                        anger, greed, envy —
                        pride, disobedience with
                        My Blood —

                As you measure
                So shall the unrepented be measured by
                    their own deeds of rebellion against God's will—

John 15: 16

You did not choose me,
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
so that the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.

Luke 16: 18

What is this "short time"? We don't know what he means.'

                Jesus: I died for you

September 4, 2004

Wisdom 11: 22 — 12: 2

                "I will praise your name forever —
                    my king and my God"

Psalm 145: 1-2, 8-14

e) Relationship with Members of the Church

There is but one true Church of Christ. Yet this one Church has three different states of existence. There is the pilgrim Church, the Church of this world, composed of members who have received the grace of Christ and strive for its development. They have not yet obtained the goal of their efforts, as have the members of the heavenly Church, who enjoy God in eternal happiness. The Church suffering is an intermediate state of existence necessary for those who had not achieved the required purification as members of the pilgrim Church. Although there are these three phases of the Church’s existence, there is a profound union existing between all the members. All these members possess the same basic life of grace in Christ, and this common life establishes the most intimate bonds of love. In our preceding chapter, we discussed the pilgrim Church. Let us now consider the Church suffering and the heavenly Church.

The members of the Church suffering are those who have departed from this life in an incomplete state of Christian development. Their development is incomplete in the sense that grace has not fully taken possession of them, and, as a result, they are yet closed in upon themselves to a greater or lesser degree. They as yet cannot open themselves out in complete love to the Triune God in the beatific vision. They must undergo a further purification, a purification which could have been achieved upon earth with merit. Now the purification must be achieved with no merit attached. The pain of this purification is mixed with the certain expectation of achieving the vision of God. We can hasten the advent of this vision for this people by the offering of prayers and other good works. Scripture itself refers to our action on behalf of those in purgatory in Chapter 12 of the Second Book of Maccabees beginning with verse 38.

The members of the heavenly Church are those in whom the life of grace has taken full possession and has reached its completion in the life of glory. Faith now is unnecessary, as the light of glory gives the human intellect a new strength and capacity for seeing God face-to-face. While the Christian was a wayfarer, he received the imprint of the indwelling Trinity as he shared in God’s own life. Now in heaven that grace-life and possession of God reaches its completion—the absolute completion is not achieved, however, until the resurrection of the body. The divine persons give Themselves to the beatified in a profound union far surpassing that of the indwelling of the Trinity experienced here below.

This life of heaven is still the Christ-life, for just as we possess a share in Trinitarian life here below as mediated by Christ, and exercise this grace-life as structured by Him, so also in heaven is the mediation of Christ present. In the words of Rahner, "One always sees the Father through Jesus. Just as immediately as this, for the directness of the vision of God is not a denial of the mediatorship of Christ as man."¹⁴ And not only does the humanity of Christ unite the blessed to God, but also, in some way, to the whole of creation. This is merely a completion of what is begun here below, namely, the union with Christ in His humanity establishing the Christian in a special relationship with God, with other men, and with the whole of creation. We have a glimpse, therefore, of the fullness of life which members of the heavenly Church possess.

The heavenly Church, as St. Thomas says, is the true Church.¹⁵ The Church of this earth and the Church of purgatory are, each in its own way, reaching out in loving hope for the heavenly Jerusalem. Vatican II puts it very simply: "The Church, to which we are called in Christ Jesus, and in which we acquire sanctity through the grace of God, will attain her full perfection only in the glory of heaven."¹⁶

The members of the heavenly Church can help us in living our life of grace until we too share its fullness with them. Their power of intercession on our behalf is but another ramification of the communal aspect of Christianity. We are meant to help others grow in Christ. We, in turn, are intended by God to receive aid from others—yes, from members of the heavenly Church, as well as from those with whom we dwell here below.

Not only can we be aided by the saints’ intercession, but the example of the canonized saints can also be of great value to us. They have concretely proved that full holiness is possible. Such an inspiration is of real worth when we are tempted to think that Christian sanctity in its higher degrees is impossible of attainment. Moreover, the canonized saints, in their diversity, teach us that there are many authentic versions of Christian holiness. They can be innovators in showing us that there are numerous possibilities in assimilating the mystery of Christ, although the basic assimilation remains the same for all Christians of all times. In the opinion of Rahner this is one of the chief roles the canonized saints exert in the life of the Church.¹⁷

 

---

NOTES:

 ¹⁴Karl Rahner, Theological Investigations, Vol. III (Baltimore: Helicon, 1967), p. 44.
 ¹⁵ Cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, In Ad Ephes., c. 3, Lect. 3.
 ¹⁶Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Church, No. 48.
 ¹⁷Cf. Karl Rahner, Op. cit., pp. 100-101.

1 John 3: 1-3

You must see what great love
    the Father has lavished on us
by letting us be called God’s children—
which is what we are!
The reason why the world
    does not acknowledge us
is that it did not acknowledge him.
My dear friends,
    we are already God’s children,
but what we shall be in the future
    has not yet been revealed.
We are well aware that when he appears
we shall be like him,
because we shall see him as he really is.

Whoever treasures this hope of him
purifies himself, to be as pure as he is.

Matthew 5: 1-12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

How blessed are the poor in spirit:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle:
they shall have the earth as inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those
   who hunger and thirst for uprightness:
they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
they shall be recognised
   as children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
   in the cause of uprightness:
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

                Sing: Blessed Are They

All Saints

November 1, 2007

INTRODUCTION: Our first reading is from the book of Revelation. The section just preceding today’s passage described the end of the world. The sun became dark and the moon became red as blood and there was a great earthquake all over the earth. People tried to hide from all these terrible things and they asked: “Who can survive?” Today’s reading answers the question - those who have followed Christ faithfully. The number 144,000 is a symbolic number, symbolizing perfection. Notice after it refers to the 144,000 it speaks of those who are saved as such a large crowd that no one could count them.

HOMILY: It’s hard to believe it’s already November. As this year comes to an end we are reminded that time in this life will come to an end for each one of us. It’s not something most of us enjoy thinking about, but the Church reminds us through various liturgies at this time of the year that this life is not all there is. God has greater things prepared for us. And so we begin the month with the feast of All Saints, giving us an image of the glory God intends for us if we just travel along the way he has pointed out for us.

The first reading today is from the last book of the bible giving us a lot of hope that we will be among those who will enjoy God’s love for all eternity. Even though Jesus told us that those who take the easy way that leads to destruction are many, and there are few who enter into life through the narrow gate, those few are still quite a sizeable number, a number too large to count. Those who have been designated by the Church as saints are very easy to count. It’s obvious that the great number of saints our first reading tells us about include ordinary people like us, or like neighbors we’ve known, or parents or grandparents or relatives we’ve loved.

The hope that our first reading gives us is underscored in our second reading where we hear that “we are God’s children.” This is not just a nice, feel-good, poetic term, it is in fact what we really are if we have God’s grace in us.

Our gospel reading shows us Jesus preaching the beatitudes as he begins the Sermon on the Mount. As we hear the beatitudes, we can perhaps think of some of the great saints who lived out the various beatitudes. For example: “blessed are the single hearted” such as Mother Teresa, or “blessed are the poor in spirit” like St. Francis of Assisi, or “blessed are those persecuted for holiness sake” such as St. Lawrence or St. Boniface. Which of the beatitudes do you think appeals most to you? On this day of All Saints it might be a good idea to choose one of the beatitudes and try to live it out more fully. I believe if we do, we will find that we are at the same time living out all the others to a greater degree as well. ” Let us remember that Jesus ends them with these words: “Be glad and rejoice, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

2 Maccabees 12: 43-46

after this he took a collection from them individually, amounting to nearly two thousand drachmas, and sent it to Jerusalem to have a sacrifice for sin offered, an action altogether fine and noble, prompted by his belief in the resurrection. For had he not expected the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, whereas if he had in view the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the thought was holy and devout. Hence, he had this expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their sin.

 

INTRODUCTION – (2 Maccabees 12: 43-46, Romans 5: 5-11, John 6: 37-40) Our first reading, from the book of Maccabees, comes from about 100 years before Christ. At that time in history the Greeks were the dominant power and they were trying to get the Jews to abandon their faith and follow the beliefs of the pagans. Those who would not give in were persecuted and put to death. The loyal Jews fought back. In one of their battles, many Jews were killed. As they were being buried, it was found that they had small statues of pagan gods attached to their garments. These Jews were loyal to their Jewish beliefs, but they had, to some extent, given in to paganism. Just in case those pagan gods were real, they were carrying with them statues of pagan gods to give them protection. Their leader, Judas Maccabeus, took up a collection to send to Jerusalem for sacrifices to be offered up to the Lord for those people. He believed their hearts were, in general, in the right place, but for the weakness in their faith they had to be forgiven. In this piece of history from 100 B.C., we can see the beginnings of the belief that our prayers can help those who have died, a belief that is still part of our faith.

HOMILY – Praying for our deceased relatives and friends is what our feast of All Souls is about today. However, I had the hardest time getting started with today’s homily. I kept putting it off. It’s not as if I do not believe in praying for friends and relatives who have died. I do it all the time and it has been a tradition in the Church from the beginning, and even before that as we heard in our first reading.

I think the difficulty I had in developing my homily comes from two sources. First, many people don’t like to hear about death and what might come afterwards. We know we can’t avoid it, but my sense is that many people believe that if they don’t think about it, it won’t happen, at least not for a long time. My suspicion is that my father was that way. I constantly tried to get him to make a will but he never did. As a CPA he would have known it was a good idea. I think making a will would have made the prospect of his own death too concrete and too real for him to deal with.

The second reason today’s homily was hard was that I would have to talk about Purgatory. It’s an idea that many Christians deny. I remember once I was helping a family prepare the liturgy for their deceased father and they insisted “absolutely no mention of Purgatory.” It’s as if it were a bad word. They wanted to think their father was perfect, I guess, and was already in heaven. Most of us would like to believe that our loved ones go straight to heaven when they die – period. If this were true, then they would not need our prayers. If they went to the other place, God forbid, our prayers would do them no good. The Church teaches, in every Mass we have for a person who died and in today’s feast, that our prayers do help our relatives and friends who have left this world as they journey to eternal life.

Purgatory, among all the mysteries and beliefs of the Church is an extremely logical and comforting doctrine. It’s logical if we ask ourselves how many of us think we will be perfect when we die. There may even be some who are perfect right now. I would ask them to identify themselves, but if they’re perfect, they will also be too humble to do so. Even those who lived a good life may still have a little room for improvement, they may still not love God or others quite enough. That’s where Purgatory comes in – it’s an opportunity to grow into the most loving, most holy person we can possibly be. As a result we would then be filled with God’s peace and joy and love to the fullest extent. Luther rejected the idea of Purgatory because of the abuse of indulgences at the time. Today, the concept of Purgatory has been rejected by many because of all the negative images of suffering and punishment that we grew up with. Actually, I think for the souls in Purgatory, happiness far outweighs the unhappiness. Their salvation is sure, they are more closely united with God than they had ever experienced before in their lives, they are on their way to the enjoyment of God’s kingdom in the fullest possible way. But they’re not there yet and that’s the painful part.

If you read the book, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” I think you get a good, practical image of Purgatory. It’s not a religious book, it’s very entertaining and it pictured for me what Purgatory might be like as we work out issues, regrets, hurts, conflicts, etc., that we might take with us when we die.

To demonstrate that Purgatory makes so much sense, I think that those who deny Purgatory have had to find a substitute for it in their thinking about the next life. For many that substitute is reincarnation. In reincarnation a person supposedly keeps working for greater and greater purity and holiness until they are ready to be perfectly one with God. However, reincarnation comes from Hinduism. Actually a Hindu does not look forward to reincarnation because they don’t want to have to pass through this world of pain and suffering one more time. I suspect the notion of reincarnation has been adopted by many Westerners, even Christians, because it fits our culture of “buy now, pay later.” They figure they can live any way they want and can postpone having to pay any consequences. Our faith tells us, “now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.” God gives us what we need in this life to help us know him and serve him in this life. If we do not do it perfectly, Purgatory is there to finish the job. Today, we renew our faith in life after death. Today too we renew our belief in the power of prayer to help our loved ones, even those who are no longer among us, for in Christ they are still one with us. With Christ our great high priest, we offer now the greatest prayer there is, the Eucharist.

                Our mission in the Shepherds of Christ is to
                    help to renew the Church and the
                    world —

                In circulating these writings/homilies
                    of Fr. Joe last year to 38,000
                    priests in the United States and
                    the hierarchy around the world —
                    we were answering Jesus' call to
                    Fr. Carter 16 years ago to spread the
                    Priestly writing Shepherds of Christ

                We have circulated at least 15,000,000 Priestly Newsletters
                    individually and in books in 16 years —
                    we still try to spread the prayer
                    chapters — Jesus told Fr. Carter to
                    begin — Now in 8 languages
                    we have many on brochures and you
                    can request these for your
                    prayer chapter —

                Also the message of Fr. Carter
                    to begin Apostles of the Eucharistic
                    Heart of Jesus

                Jesus is telling us what to do —
                    He told Fr. Carter 16 years ago to
                        start these prayer chapters

                Our mission is to help bring peace
                    to the world —
                    We must want peace and love in
                        our own hearts

                Peace means we live our consecration
                    to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary 

Act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock, I consecrate myself to Your most Sacred Heart. From Your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me, as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as a symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom You have chosen as Your companion in this most important work. Help me to always love You in return. Help me to give myself entirely to You. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor! Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!

"Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are also my Mother. You love me with a most special love as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, a movement created by your Son as a powerful instrument for the renewal of the Church and the world. In a return of love, I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock."

                We want to be united as a body with
                    Christ our head —

                Peace means seeing with the vision
                    of God's will —
                    not rebelling against it

                Peace means working with each other —
                    loving each other — not
                    competing and being envious
                    trying to raise ourselves
                    up for vain glory and
                    put our brothers down

                Peace means obedience to just
                    authority over us

                Peace means not sacrificing
                    needed rules for selfish
                    people wanting chaos —

                Peace in ourselves means —
                    loving one's vocation and
                    serving in love with others
                    for a common goal and
                    the plan of the Father

                Sing: Let There Be Peace on Earth

                Please pray your prayers —
                    live your vocation
                    pray for an increase
                    of faith, hope and charity

                Given October 29, 2010

                The Father's Plan

                    To build the Kingdom of love
                    To be united
                    To be one
                    To be harmonious
                    To communicate
                    To obey those over us —
                    Never to lie

                    Not to be prideful —
                    But to seek justice and peace.
                    Jesus died in perfect peace.
                    Living the pascal mystery of
                        death/resurrection

                    Forgiving those who offend us
                        as we want God to forgive us —

                    Jesus taught us the
                        pascal mystery death/resurrection

                Why do we operate —
                    To build God's Kingdom
                    To love God and to love others
                    To have deep relationships — like Mary and Jesus;
                    Mary and Joseph — Jesus and His Apostles —
                    Jesus and John; Jesus and Mary Magdalene,
                    Jesus and Peter —

                We see the sufferings of Jesus and we see the resurrection —
                We see the obedience of Jesus to His Father's will —
                We want to work for Jesus with our whole heart,
                    our whole soul, our whole being —

                We need to forgive — we need to be forgiven

                The devil works in the angry heart —
                The devil works in the weak link —
                lies are so bad —

                Pride — I can be better than you, prettier than you,
                    smarter than you —

                A person living to be better than their brother and
                    proving it to themselves and others day long —
                    misses the purpose of life —
                To use our gifts God gives us in His service —
                    loving our brother and being obedient to
                    God and those over us —

                Satan works in the impurities of our heart —
                    say for example one may think
                    if I lose weight — everyone will see my
                    beauty and I will be prettier than everyone
                    else —
                    but you were called to go on a mission this
                    day for souls — so you didn't eat — thought
                    of yourself and your beauty - and never even
                    prayed for those needing your life offered
                    up for the service of Jesus —
                    pride, lust, me, me, becomes the god that
                    you worship — MY AFFECTION — MY
                    Beauty — My intelligence — My being better
                    than you — These are focusing on the impurities
                    of the wounded human nature —
                    and then holding out to prove — I AM TOPS
                    over you — Power over —

                Satan works this way to get us off praying for
                    building God's Kingdom —
                    the focus becomes my inferior feelings about
                    myself and my desire to look better, be
                    better than the people I need to obey or
                    work with as brothers

                The saints sacrificed, some were beheaded, some
                    crucified — they lived for the souls — they
                    knew suffering was an opportunity to bring
                    down grace for their brothers, themselves
                    to be pleasing to God —
                    Not vain for their self glory —

                So God calls you to partake in a great mission —
                    Satan comes and gets you to focus on yourself —
                    Oh you should be more pretty than
                    Suzie Q —
                    You need to not eat so you can lose weight
                        today —

                ie When you needed to do the work so important
                    to God — you went on an astringent
                    diet and said lets live on the Eucharist —

                The Eucharist means thanksgiving - love —
                    going out of oneself —
                    being united —
                    serving God — focusing on God and living
                        in obedience to God's will —

                The Eucharist means union — harmony —
                    obedience to God — service — love — giving

Order your Christmas presents that last!

your Christmas gifts.

 

Rita Ring

Books written by the cofounder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries Writings by Rita Ring Mass Book A Journey Into the Heart of Jesus - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 12.00 plus postage Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 10.00  plus postage God's Blue Book I Teachings to Lift You Up. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage God's Blue Book II The Fire of His Love. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J. $ 10.00  plus postage God's Blue Book III Love God, Love One Another. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage God's Blue Book 4 The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring $ 5.00  plus postage God's Blue Book 5 So Deep Is the Love of His Heart. Author: Rita Ring. $ 5.00  plus postage God's Blue Book 6A He Calls Us to Action Author: Rita Ring. $ 10.00  plus postage Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I Red Rosary Book - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage Blue Rosary Book Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II $ 12.00  plus postage Short Rosary Meditations for the Ederly, Ill, and Homebound From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur This book is 8 1/2" by 11" and you can open it up and sit it on your lap. $ 10.00  plus postage   Messages From Jesus   Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.   This book is 8 1/2" by 11" and you can open it up and sit it on your lap.   $ 10.00  plus postage   Daily Messages From Heaven 1 From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage Daily Messages From Heaven Volumes 2 thru 5 (Spiral bound) From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $25.00 each plus postage Rosary Meditations for Little People and Elderly Short Meditations for the Rosary $ 3.00  plus postage Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary, Books 1 thru 5 A Coloring Book with Short Meditations on the 15 mysteries of the rosary. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 5.00 each plus postage   Coloring the Lives of Jesus and Mary Books 6 and 7   Mysteries of Light   $ 5.00 each plus postage        God's Blue Book I on CD, Disk #1   God's Blue Book I, Disk #1 Read by author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.   $ 10.00 plus postage     Mysteries of Light Rosary Book   Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I   $ 5.00  plus postage      Mysteries of Light Rosary Book   Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II   $ 5.00  plus postage      Apostle's Manual   Shepherds of Christ Overview: Very carefully discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.   $ 20.00       Songs From Jesus   Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.   $ 5.00       Colorea 1 thru 5   las vidas de Jesús y María (recibido el Imprimátur)   $ 5.00 each plus postage      Para Comprender Mejor La Santa Misa   Una Jornada Hacia el Corazón de Jesús   $ 10.00       Meditaciones del Rosario   para Pequenos y Ancianos   $ 10.00

Fr. Joe Robinson

Inspiring Homilist & Author Fr. Joseph Robinson has dedicated his life to serving Christ and the Church for over 40 years.

full year coming soon   Guiding Light - Steadfast to the Son   Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle A of the Liturgical Year   $ 10.00 plus postage

Guiding Light - Feed My Soul Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle C of the Liturgical Year $ 10.00 plus postage

Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle B of the Liturgical Year $ 10.00 plus postage

Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts Inspiring Homilies covering partial year of Cycle A by Fr. Joe Robinson $ 5.00 plus postage

Fr. Edward J. Carter

Books written by the founder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries Response to God's Love ...God Himself is the Ultimate Mystery $ 10.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 1 Selected Writings on Spirituality—for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 10.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 2 Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur $ 12.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 3 Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage Tell My People Messages from Jesus and Mary Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest   $ 10.00  plus postage Spirituality Handbook Shepherds of Christ Associates Spirituality Handbook - A Way of Spiritual Life Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest $ 3.00  plus postage The Spirituality of Fatima Fatima: The Setting, The Message, The Spirituality of Consecration $ 5.00  plus postage Shepherds of Christ 6:20 Prayers CD Holy Spirit Novena, Associates Prayer Manual and the Rosary Led by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. $ 10.00  plus postage Priestly Newsletter 2000 Issue 1 Audio CD - Read by Father Edward J. Carter $ 10.00  plus postage

 

Fr. John J. Pasquini Light, Happiness, & Peace Journeying Through Traditional Catholic Spirituality Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini $ 10.00 plus postage In Imitation of Two Hearts Prayers for Consolation, Renewal and Peace in Times of Suffering Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini $ 10.00  plus postage Authenticity Authenticity - Prayers and Meditations Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini $ 10.00  plus postage Medicine of Immortality Prayers and Meditations for Mass and Eucharistic Adoration Author: Fr. John J. Pasquini $ 10.00  plus postage Ecce Fides Pillar of Truth - Dedicated to defending Catholic beliefs through reason, Scripture, and the life of the Holy Spirit $ 10.00  plus postage Authenticity Ocean DVD The Authenticity Prayer Book is read with the Ocean as a backdrop. $ 10.00  plus postage Nursing Home Mass DVD A special mass by Fr. John J. Pasquini for those in nursing homes or homebound. $ 10.00  plus postage Consolation DVD Give this DVD as a sympathy present. $ 10.00  plus postage

Statues/Religious Items Statues, Crucifixes, and Religious Artwork These items are very special additions to your home or place of worship. Special 27" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass 27" Statue with crown $ 450.00 plus shipping Special 18" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass   $ 250.00 plus shipping Special 15" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass White gown with gold trim around mantel $ 200.00 plus shipping Special 12" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass White gown with gold trim around mantel $ 165.00 plus shipping Special 18" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass   Blue and Pink gown with a rosary over her hand. $ 250.00 plus shipping Special 11" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass Blue and Pink gown. $ 150.00 plus shipping Crucifix by Felix - Hand Carved Crucifix with incredible detail! $ 750.00 plus shipping Imitation of Two Hearts Giclee Art Print on Canvas $ 150.00 plus shipping Lucia's Vision Giclee Art Print on Canvas by Harold Kellner $ 150.00 plus shipping       Mary's Image   12 x 16   Giclee Art Print on Canvas of Mary's image with a sliver of glass and a little bottle of Jesus and Mary water. The glass will be fixed behind the back of the picture.   $ 200.00 plus shipping               Blue Crystal Rosary   Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater   6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping   8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping         Red Crystal Rosary   Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater   6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping   8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping             Clear Crystal Rosary   Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater   6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping   8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping

 

Get a canvas print of Mary's image
with a sliver of glass and
a little bottle of
Jesus and Mary water.

The glass will be fixed behind the
back of the picture.

Cost   — $200.00

Call Sheila

1-513-470-3387

                           

Also available

a cup with a Mary's image on it

Cost — $15

Call Doris
1-888-211-3041
or
1-727-725-9312

 

 

   

Rosaries with Mary's Image Available
Aurora Borealis Beads

6mm - $30.00
8mm - $40.00

 

Call Doris
1-888-211-3041
or
1-727-725-9312

 

Statues  

Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass - 18	Our Lady-Guadalupe w/glass - 12	Limpias - 8
Immaculate Heart w/glass - 18	I Heart - Ivory w/glass - 18	Our Lady of Grace w/glass - 18
Our Lady-Mt. Carmel w/glass - 18	Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass - 18	Infant of Prague w/glass - 24
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass - 24	Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass - 24	Sorrowful Mother w/glass - 24
I Heart - Ivory w/glass - 24	I Heart of Mary w/glass - 24	Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass - 24
Our Lady-Guadalupe w/glass - 28	Our Lady of Grace w/glass - 24	Our Lady-Mt. Carmel w/glass - 24

St. Padre Pio	St. Joseph	St. Therese
St. Francis	St. Anthony	St. Claire
Limpias	St. Jude	Divine Mercy
Holy Family	Angel	St. Philomena
Pieta - Marble	Pieta - Color	Holy Family
St. Anthony - 18	St. Francis - 18	St. Joseph - 18
St. Therese - 18	St. Rita - 18	St. Clare - 12

St. Rita - 12

St. Padre Pio - 12

Divine Mercy - 12

St. Michael - 11

         

 

Shepherds of Christ Ministries P. O. Box 627 China, IN  47250

Toll free - 1-888-211-3041 Local - 1-812-273-8405 fax - 1-812-273-3182 web: www.sofc.org e-mail: info@sofc.org

	Size	Price	Quantity
Holy Family	24"	$180
Limpias	24"	$125
St. Anthony	24"	$125
St. Claire	24"	$125
St. Francis	24"	$125
St. Joseph	24"	$125
St. Jude	24"	$125
St. Padre Pio	24"	$125
St. Therese	24"	$125
Divine Mercy	22"	$125
Angel	22"	$100
St. Philomena	20"	$100
St. Philomena	16"	$65
St. Joseph	18"	$65
St. Francis	18"	$65
St. Anthony	18"	$65
St. Rita	18"	$65
St. Therese	18"	$65
Pieta - Color	15"	$75
Pieta - Marble	15"	$75
Holy Family	12"	$60
St. Padre Pio - standing	12"	$40
St. Padre Pio - sitting	8"	$50
St. Michael	11"	$40
St. Rita	12"	$40
Divine Mercy	12"	$40
St. Claire	12"	$40
Limpias	8"	$25
Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass	28"	$500
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass	24"	$500
Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass	24"	$500
Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass	24"	$500
Infant of Prague w/glass	24"	$500
Our Lady of Grace w/glass	24"	$500
Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass	24"	$500
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass	24"	$500
Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass	24"	$500
Sorrowful Mother w/glass	24"	$500
Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass	18"	$300
Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass	18"	$300
Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Grace w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass	18"	$300
Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass	12"	$200
Fatima w/glass	11"	$150
Fatima w/glass	18"	$250
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	12"	$160
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	15"	$200
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	18"	$250
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass	27"	$450

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