China Retreat
November 10th - 13th
Nov. 11th - at 1:30pm & 6:20pm
Please tune in & pray.
Nov. 12th - Mass at 12 noon
Nov. 13th - Mass at 12 noon
Prayer for Grace for our Country
Dear Father
united to Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacrifice of
Calvary sacramentally made present, celebrated around the world, in
the Holy Spirit. We offer up all we do united to the Mass. We unite
in one mind and one heart as members of the mystical body of Christ,
with Christ our head in the pure and holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
through the powerful intercession of Mary with all the angels and
saints and souls in purgatory, and we beg for the saving grace, for our country, the United States. Please help us.
We further pray for unity to always do the will of God in love. We
spread the Blood of Jesus on the leaders and people of the United
States and cast the devil into hell. We consecrate our country to
the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and all our dioceses, and
beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God help us. We pray
for our families, the priests, the Church and the world.
In the Name of Jesus please hear us, we pray. We pray for our
president and leaders. We pray that we are united as
one nation under God to work together in love as God wants.
God Bless America!
God bless our Veterans!
November 11, 2018
R. We are pilgrims on a journey – the destination
God intended for us is eternal life –
If we take the wrong direction in a road trip
then we don't arrive at the destination –
Who is the guide on this journey to eternal
life – God –
Why would a man on a road trip ask a lying
man and man of deception for direction?
Why would a man choose independence
opposed to God's law of love and unity –
a life of secrets and sin and then
expect to reach their destination to God,
if satan is the one giving the directions –
if satan is the guide –
God gives us His laws to follow – they
are the road to happiness –
In the Holy Spirit Sequence it says
"Bend the stubborn heart and will
melt the frozen warm the chill,
Guide the steps that go astray"
Any directions by the evil spirit and
followed as a guide are steps astray!!
Happiness is in truth and goodness –
God is Absolute truth –
God is Absolute goodness –
Happiness is in God –
In heaven we know there is
happiness –
the beatific vision –
see God face-to-face.
No man is an island –
Man is to work with others
in love to achieve happiness.
Men must work together.
There must be peace and harmony,
men co-operating with others.
(A common good)
LAWS are for the common
good –
There is structure and order
and leaders and authority –
When a person defies just authority
and works in secret to hide
their evil pursuits, they
will not be truly happy rebelling
against what is right –
A law is useless if people
defy authority and rebel
against correction, direction,
and what is for the common good.
God has created every creature and
He has a unique purpose for every
person's life.
A person of pride seeks dominance for
dominance sake.
This is disorder when they
try to force just authority
to put up with ugly behavior
by force, tricks, lies, chaos,
confusion, destruction.
God is over the whole world –
His Laws govern men.
Even the stars obey God.
We cannot see things clearly –
We do not comprehend God's
law for heaven and earth fully –
we are learning here below –
God gave us the 10 Commandments
regulating men's actions
with regard to God and
other men.
The Ten Commandments
1. I, the Lord, am your God. You
shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name
of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the
Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your
mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit
adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false
witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your
neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything
that belongs to your neighbor.
R.
Do good, avoid evil!!
Christ gave us the NEW LAW –
It is the road - map to the
beatific vision –
God opens the supernatural world
to men in baptism –
Christ gave us the Church
Christ gave us the priest
Christ gave us the 7 sacraments –
God gives us a sharing in His
life in baptism and He
feeds this life with
the Bread of Life –
the Word and the Eucharist.
Law is meant as a light
for man to see the
way home to eternal life.
Law is a gift from God.
Man is a pilgrim on a journey.
Man cannot see in the dark
to travel!!
Jesus is the light of the world.
Jesus speaks –
Lies are sinful, a man who
deceives another intentionally
with a malicious heart is
bringing down evil, not love,
on others.
Lying stops trust which is
needed so men can work with each other.
Lying stops men from being trusted –
It further is greater evil the man
who is a hypocrite –
He lies about his deceptive
ways and tries to get others
to believe he is good, truthful
and to be trusted.
Men were created by My Father
with a unique purpose in life –
How evil the man who tries to block
the plan of the heavenly Father
so he, in his vain - deceiving
way, tries to prove he is
better than the man he is
trying to stop. Gaul to step
in the road to trip the righteous
man. God is offended
by evil behavior and evil men
parading before God like He does not
see their evil.
In order to have order in
family, work, Church, community
there must be men of virtue,
men of truth, men working
in respect and love and unity
with other men.
The man who is envious and
jealous – blocking the heavenly
Father's Plan is setting a trap
spiritually for himself.
A man that habitually tries
greater and greater deception of authority
is not living, but hurting his
spiritual life in God needed
for the journey home to heaven and to embrace
the eternal vision.
There is to be with service
of others love and sincere kindness,
warmth in welcoming men
and working with them.
Friendliness with others –
treating men with respect
and care –
Providing a place of friendship
and love as place where
men can come to pray together,
experience peace and unity.
What men do to other men
should come from a sincere
genuine heart of love and care.
Song: Give me Your Heart oh Jesus
R. People that do not want to welcome
others can begin quarrels – stiffness –
deprive others of what they need
when they come to a place –
So they stay away --
Your neighbors are your brothers
and sisters and you are to love
them –
The quarreling man wants to
argue because he sees
others as enemies – he
argues to argue about anything.
A man may be a generous giver –
He gives what he has in joy
to others - he loves his
neighbors and wants to give
to them expecting nothing in
return – the joy of giving –
He has love and mercy for others.
The evil man can use violence
to force what he wants –
he wants what he wants for himself –
Song: I Am a God of Justice
From The
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.12
23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION
Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God
our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.
R. We need a deep relationship
with God –
So if we die and go to
judgment –
We will see our judge
Jesus Christ with open
arms to us –
Parables
10 Talents
God expects us to use our talents
to make more for the building
of His Kingdom.
Parable of Tenants
They beat the servants –
Then killed the son the
landowner of the vineyard sent.
Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
The foolish ones would
not be prepared
The parable of the barren fig tree
We have so many years to do as
God wants us to do –
The parable of the person who keeps knocking
at night –
We must persevere in prayer
The Wedding Feast
Lamp under a bushel
The Lost Sheep
The Mustard Seed
The Prodigal Son
The Unjust Judge
The Sower
The Treasure in the Field
The Net in the Sea
The House on Sand and House on Rock
The Good Samaritan
Jesus taught and worked miracles –
Jesus is the Son of God
Jesus is Divine
MIRACLES
Feeding the people with loaves and fish
Healing the blind man
Making the lepers clean
Healing Jarius' daughter
Calming the Storm
Walking on Water
Healing a dumb man
Casting out demons
Healing the man with a Withered Hand
Feeding 5 thousand
Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law
Turning water into wine
Healing the Centurion's servant
The woman with a hemorrhage is healed
Lazarus was raised from the dead
The Man at Pool of Bethesda healed
These are some miracles Jesus
worked
God is a God of Miracles!!
John 14: 1-7
Do not let your hearts be
troubled.
You trust in God, trust also in me.
In my Father’s house
there are many places to live in;
otherwise I would have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone
and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you to myself,
so that you may be with me
where I am.
You know the way
to the place where I am going.
Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do
not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’
Jesus said:
I am the Way; I am
Truth and Life.
No one can come to the Father
except through me.
If you know me,
you will know my Father too.
From this moment you know him
and have seen him.
John 14: 11-13
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father
and the Father is in me;
or at least believe it
on the evidence of these works.
In all truth I tell you,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works
as I do myself,
and will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask in my name
I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified
in the Son.
Matthew 26: 26-29
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and
when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the
disciples. ‘Take it and eat,’ he said, ‘this is my body.’ Then
he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them
saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood, the
blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness
of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall never again drink wine
until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my
Father.’
R. Jesus was arrested and suffered for our sins –
Judas betrayed Jesus
Jesus was brought before Pilate and Herod
Barabbas is freed
Jesus was whipped
Jesus was crowned with thorns
R. Jesus is condemned to death
for our sins –
Jesus was nailed to the cross –
They cast lots for His Garments
Mary's
Message
from the Rosary of August 27, 1996
Mary:
I stood beneath the cross of my Son, and my Heart was in such pain for I
saw Him before my eyes. I saw Him covered with blood. I saw Him die. My
Heart, my children, my Heart to watch my Son, but my Heart, my Heart, how I
suffered for my little children of the world that give in to this world and
give up the love of my Son. O my little children of light, I give you this
message. Carry this light into the darkness for your Mother Mary, for I
stood beneath the cross and I cried. I cried for the little ones. I cried
for the young ones, the ones that do not care and will lose their souls. How
do I make you see for you will not listen to me? What can I do? I come. I
appear. I beg. I plead. I give you these gifts from my Son, and you reject
me. I do not deliver messages very often anymore for I have been ignored.
The message is the same. You do not read the messages I have given to you.
Please help me. Help the little children. I appear. I appear. I appear, and
I am ignored. I stood beneath the cross, and I cried. I cried, and my Heart
was in such anguish for my little children, for I am searching for them this
day as I searched for the Child Jesus. Please, please help me. I cannot hold
back the hand of my Son any longer. I am Mary, your Mother. I ask you to
help my children. You are my children of light.
end of Mary's Message
A
Prayer for
Intimacy
with the
Lamb, the
Bridegroom
of the
Soul
Oh Lamb
of God,
Who
take
away
the
sins of
the
world,
come
and act
on my
soul
most
intimately.
I
surrender
myself,
as I
ask for
the
grace
to let
go, to
just be
as I
exist
in You
and You
act
most
intimately
on my
soul.
You are
the
Initiator.
I am
the
soul
waiting
Your
favors
as You
act in
me. I
love
You. I
adore
You. I
worship
You.
Come
and
possess
my soul
with
Your
Divine
Grace,
as I
experience
You
most
intimately.
R.
Jesus rose on the 3rd day.
Jesus appeared in His glorified
body to the disciples –
Jesus ascended into heaven –
Thw Church was built on the Blood of the saints.
Peter was crucified upside down.
Andrew was crucified on X shaped cross.
James was the first Apostle Martyred.
John escaped violent death –
he died very old
Phillip died a Martyr
Bartholomew – Violent death
Thomas – died
James – Clubbed to death
Matthew – killed
Thaddeus – Crucified (loved obedience)
Simon – Martyred
Matthias – Martyred
Judas betrayed Jesus
Stephen was stoned to death –
Paul was converted
November 10, 2018
From The
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.25
46. PRAYER.
In the preparatory prayer I will beg God
our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions,
and operations may be directed purely to the
praise and service of His Divine Majesty.
R. This retreat is to be alone with
God –
From The
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.12
23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION
Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God
our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.
R.
God has a unique plan for our life.
We are called by God to live our lives
according to our vocation and in
so doing go to our eternal home in
heaven for all eternity –
In baptism God opens the super-
natural world to us. We receive the
supernatural virtues of faith, hope and
love – our knowing and loving capacity
is elevated – we share in God's loving
activity – we must co-operate with
the will of the heavenly Father –
this unique plan God has for us.
The devil is the Father of lies –
St. Ignatius wrote about the
Discernment of Spirits –
He teaches us in this to discern
the spirits –
Not to act in desolation –
but to go back to before the
desolation began –
In desolation the devil guides
and councils –
We are to discern the spirits –
From The
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.11
21.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
no decision is made under the influence of any
inordinate attachment
R.
We are to work the spiritual
exercises laid down by
St. Ignatius.
4 Days before Fr. Carter's death
R.
The St. Ignatius exercises are to help
prepare the soul to free itself
of inordinate attachments –
We are to live by the will of God,
the Plan of the heavenly Father,
and live in love –
We are to have courage –
pray for the grace we need most –
give our will and our lives
in surrender to God's plan –
We need the right ordering of our
life according to God's plan for us –
1 Corinthians 15: 20-28
In fact, however, Christ has been raised from the dead, as the first-fruits of all who
have fallen asleep. As it was by one man that death came, so through one man has come the
resurrection of the dead. Just as all die in Adam, so in Christ all will be brought to
life; but all of them in their proper order: Christ the first-fruits, and next, at his
coming, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he will hand over the
kingdom to God the Father, having abolished every principality, every ruling force and
power. For he is to be king until he has made his enemies his footstool, and the
last of the enemies to be done away with is death, for he has put all things under his
feet. But when it is said everything is subjected, this obviously cannot include the
One who subjected everything to him. When everything has been subjected to him, then the
Son himself will be subjected to the One who has subjected everything to him, so that God
may be all in all.
R.
We seek God's Divine Will for us –
We seek to rid ourselves of disordered
affections that take us from God's
will for us –
July 31, 1994
Words of Jesus to
Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:
"My beloved
priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds
of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates,
in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.
"I will use the newsletter
and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful
instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.
"I am calling many to
become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them
I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help
bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My
Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of
Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart
and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy
Spirit."
- Message from
Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31,
1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus
(The Jesuits)
R. Our founder was chosen by God,
a Jesuit to teach us in the spiritual
life. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
have been passed on from him to
us to help us live in holiness,
in the will of God, in love.
This retreat is to surrender
to God's plan for us.
From The
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.11
21.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
no decision is made under the influence of any
inordinate attachment
From
The
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.25
46. PRAYER.
In the preparatory prayer I will beg God
our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions,
and operations may be directed purely to the
praise and service of His Divine Majesty.
Prayer from
St. Ignatius
Lord,
teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed
the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not to ask
for any reward,
Save that of knowing
that I am doing your will.
“Nothing is more practical
than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite
absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes
your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what
will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do
with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you
read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes
you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and
it will decide everything.”
Pedro Arrupe
R.
God is an irresistible lover –
We were created to love Him –
God is love –
We were created in the image
and likeness of God.
Excerpts from God's Pre-Blue Book
December, 1991
Jesus:
You are My child, you are
being
powered by Me. My love is infinite,
My support is infinite, My
blessings are infinite, turn your
will over to Me, have faith.
My love is constant. I can heal you –
listen to me. I am always with
you every moment of your life.
June 1, 1992 (excerpt)
Jesus says:
Cling to Me – hold My hand –
Know Me –
Oh you, beloved of My Father –
Love all that I send to you as
the Father intends.
I put you into My strength
Like dipping you in My
machine – you are made strong.
Little girl, walk your path, you
are not alone, feel My hand,
know My love –
you are in My care –
Little girl, walk your path
you are not alone, feel My
sun light – warm and good –
you are not alone –
Little girl, walk with Me,
tell Me your troubles too –
I am there to listen as no
other can do –
Little girl walk your path,
you are the one I know,
sweet and kind and always
there for others.
Little girl walk your path,
skip if you feel the need,
slow down and stop –
look at the earth –
study some “dumb old weed”.
Little girl walk your path,
open your heart to love –
to love one another –
That is all you need do –
Love God and love others as yourself –
Little girl walk your path,
turn your life over to Me
if I watch out for the leaves –
do you think I would not
watch out for thee –
Little girl walk your path,
looking to others, but
God knows and you know that
you are to be one with God first –
Excerpt from January 17, 1992
Jesus:
I am your rock, I am your
strength,
I am your Savior. I am the only one who can
minister to you when your heart is broken.
I know your pain and your distrust and your
hurt and your numbness and fear not to trust
again. I have been offended so many times
by so many. The worst is pains of the heart.
Stay plugged into My source, know I am here
with you every minute, every second,
of your life, and I will be there ALWAYS –
I died on the cross for you.
Come to Me all who are weary and I will
comfort you. Place your yoke upon My
shoulder and do not be afraid for I will
gently show you the way of the Lord.
I will be your rock, I will be your fortress, I
will not leave you, I am there.
Pray for your friends – many are
suffering and will not open their hearts to Me
or you or anybody. Many say “yes”
to satan and “no” to Me. Pray hard for
them, go to daily Mass and Communion and
pray for them.
I have all the power.
All power comes from Me –
My heart is an undying source
of fire and warmth –
I have all the power.
I am your power –
I am your strength –
I am your God –
I am there with you now
I will always be ready to help you
if you turn to Me.
Jesus
Prayer for Union
with Jesus
Come to me, Lord, and possess my
soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence
with You and let You work in my heart.
I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to
use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all
that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to
die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw
my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling
within me.
I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my
life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to
put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as
You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me
from Your work.
When I worry, I have taken my focus
off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the
promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear
to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me
now.
-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994
Cling to Me
May
13, 1993
Jesus: My dear child, if
you stay close to Me, then I live in you and you live in Me. I am He Who
created you and I love you with such an intensity that you will never know. My
words are your truth. You must abide in My heart in all things. There is no
room for doubt. My ways are steadfast, direct, and without error.
You must stay rooted in Me to ward off
the power of the evil one. His grip is paralyzing and crippling. His power is
stronger every day.
When you live in Me, I am in your heart
and he has no power over Me. I am your God. I am your true lover. I want to
protect you. I want to guard you from this force. Stay rooted firmly in Me and
he will have no power.
I am He Who comforts you. My hand is upon
you. Hold tight to Me, My child. My eyes are fixed right on you. You are My
most precious child. I love you as no other can. My arms are about you. My
tenderness surrounds you. My love is in your heart. You go not alone. I walk
with you.
I share every aspect of your life with
you. Cling to Me, feel My presence. It is warm and secure within your chest.
There is no room for fear, for I cast out fear and bring you comfort and joy.
end of May 13, 1993
R.
God demands we love Him with
our whole heart –
whole soul –
whole being –
The devil wants a person to
be full of self –
selfish –
God wants to give us peace,
courage – vision,
joy –
Satan tempts people to make
chaos, noise, confusion,
division, rebellion –
God works quietly
25 Years Ago
December 9, 1993
A
Prayer for Holy Communion
R.
As I give more and more of what I am attached to away, nobody can
have a hold on me. I become, more and more, the little dependent
baby in His arms. I depend on Him for everything. It is hard to let
go of this to be as a little baby, dependent on Him for everything.
If, when I receive
Jesus, I receive God, then so, in some form, I receive the Father
and Holy Spirit because how do you separate them?
And the doors to the
tabernacle open wide and in it we behold Jesus, Son of God,
God-made-man. His presence is to be honored, His name worshiped and
adored. His glory is forever.
Jesus:
I come as a little baby into your midst. I died out
of love of you. I come to you today in Holy Communion. This is
God-made-man, Son of God, coming in your hearts to dwell with you.
Do not focus on your unworthiness. Focus on His love, just for you,
to come to you today. I love you so much and God is truly in your
mouth. Be close to Me. Let go of yourself. Enter into total union
with Me, soul to soul. Be united with Me totally in your spirit.
Forget all the cares of this world and let Me dwell in you and work
in your heart. Let Me heal your weary soul.
Open wide your gates and
I enter in and you remain changed, never the same because Jesus
Christ, Son of God, came to you and dwelt in your soul. You are My
temple.
end of December 9,
1993
R.
Our lives are lived to praise
and serve God –
not pride, envy, fear,
anger, jealousy,
slothfulness, control
Sin can bring hideous
disorder –
destruction
Man is meant to co-operate
in God's plan for his
eternal salvation –
We are free children of God
when we live by the heavenly
Father's will and puts God
first in all our actions –
We are to genuinely desire
God's will for us and
want to please Him –
From our Founder
Excerpt from Blue Book 18
Priestly Newsletter 1998 #1
Spiritual Reflections
The Uncertain Path. Yahweh said to Abram, "Leave your
country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will
make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be
used as a blessing." (Gn. 12:1-2).
God spoke to Abraham. He told him to leave his homeland, as He called him from the
security emanating from the known to a type of insecurity rooted in the unknown. Abraham
had known a particular type of existence and this carried with it a specific type of
security. Now God was asking him to relinquish this security or certainty and to launch
out into the relatively unknown with its attendant insecurity. Abraham responded to the
word of God and departed his homeland. He accepted the forthcoming uncertainty, confident
that the certainty of God’s love for him would allow him to cope properly with the
uncertainty of his exodus.
Abraham is an example for all of us, since we all obviously must confront numerous and
diversified uncertainties along the path of life.
For example, uncertainty confronts us when there seems to be various manifestations of
God’s will, but we are not yet certain which option He intends for us. There are
signs indicating He wants us to make this particular choice, but there are other signs
which point in a different direction. We must bear with the pain of the uncertainty until
the issue becomes reasonably clarified.
There are other occasions when God indicates He wishes a person to depart in certain
respects from the patterned way he or she had been doing things. It is not that the
person’s way was wrong, but rather that God now has certain new designs for the
individual. The person is somewhat apprehensive concerning the newly-charted path God
seems to be unfolding before him or her. There thus enters into one’s life an
uncertainty born of the realization that to some extent one must leave go of the previous
ways together with the certainty and security these ways provided.
When God permits uncertainty to enter our lives, He is presenting us with an occasion
for growth. If we confront uncertainty properly, we become more mature Christians. We grow
in the realization of the need for trust. We comprehend that our uncertainty is an
opportunity to come closer to our loving God. The state of uncertainty, then,
paradoxically leads to a greater certainty—to a deepened realization, a deepened
certitude, that God loves us and cares for us.
A Sense of Community. If our life in Christ means anything to you,
if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and
sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common
purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy.
There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing.
Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his
own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead.
(Phil 2:1-4)
A selfless person is a beautiful person. A person who is consistently thinking of
others reinforces one’s belief in the inherent goodness of human nature. The
Christian community needs this kind of person. He or she is a community-forming person.
Such a person looks to the building up of the entire body. Such a person looks for ways to
promote union and avoid divisiveness.
A community-forming person is one who rejoices in the gifts and accomplishments of
others. He or she does not jealously brood over these successes, but thanks God, happy
that the Church has been so blessed. One’s joy is thus being constantly multiplied,
for the person easily and sincerely shares in the success of others. One’s own joy,
consequently, is not enslaved to what happens only to oneself, but rather is a joy linked
to the growth, interests, and accomplishment of community.
A community-forming person is also one who responsibly uses his or her talents and
opportunities for the good of all. The person realizes that one’s own Christian
growth contributes to the Church’s progress, while one’s mediocrity or
regression is a burden to all. The person realizes that the exercise of one’s
God-given capabilities is beneficial to the community as well as oneself, while abuse or
neglect of talents likewise affects not only oneself, but others also.
We can, then, consider a community-forming person from many different perspectives. We
see that such a person has a rich and diversified capacity to promote the Christian
Community’s ongoing conversion, growth, and sense of solidarity. But from whatever
perspective we consider the community-forming person, we always observe a person who is
thinking and acting as guided by a sense of "we", not just "I".
The Good Life. I have come so that they may have life and have it
to the full. (Jn 10:10).
We often hear the phrase, "the good life". As used within the context of
contemporary American culture—and perhaps other cultures too—the phrase means
being able to afford such things as a very nice home in the suburbs, a very expensive car,
a jet flight to Paris, expensive ski-vacations, and the finest scotch whiskey. "The
good life", then, means being able to enjoy the more expensive comforts of an
affluent society…
The good life for the committed Christian has to mean something else. The good life
means living according to the teaching and example of Jesus. The good life means
exercising this way of life not only when it is extremely pleasant to do so. It also means
living the life of Christian love when sorrow, suffering, and anxiety are with us in
plentiful measure.
Jesus does not use glamorous advertising techniques as do those who variously try to
persuade us to join the ranks of those who are living this world’s "good
life". He does not demonstrate His way by telling us that happiness can easily be
bought or had. He promises us happiness and fulfillment—the true good life—but
He very candidly tells us that there is hardship involved.
Enjoying the material pleasures and comforts of life can certainly be compatible with
the life Jesus came to give us. But these must be used according to God’s will. They
are means and not ends in themselves. How evident this is, yet how often we can be tempted
to think otherwise, even though we be committed Christians. A considerable portion of the
human race has always operated according to the principle that wealth and the things money
can buy are really the key to human happiness. Jesus has emphatically told us that this is
a false philosophy.
We can at times be dull of mind and dull of heart, so slow to understand what Jesus
came to teach and to give. By the way Jesus spoke and lived we know for certain in which
direction true happiness—the true good life—actually lies. His way is the way to
true peace, to true happiness, to the true fulfillment of life which the human heart so
much desires.
We grow in Christian holiness within the framework of everyday life. This is such an
obvious statement. It is one of those self-evident truths, a truth which no logical person
would begin to challenge. Isn’t it strange, then, that we can rather often seem to
think that our real opportunity for growth in Christian holiness somehow is not the
opportunity which is everyday, but that opportunity which is in a kind of no man’s
land, an ethereal kind of opportunity removed from the ordinary pains and struggles and
joys of everyday living, a nebulous opportunity which our hazy thinking really cannot
pinpoint when we reflect upon the matter. When we tend to think our opportunity for really
being and becoming Christian has not yet really arrived, then we are guilty, whether we
like to admit it or not, of such unrealistic thinking.
Our problem, then, is not that there is lacking ample opportunity for being and
becoming Christian. Our problem rather is that we have a tendency to want different
opportunities than everydayness presents. We know, for instance, that a Christian should
be kind and considerate but we tend to sit back and play a waiting game, as if the proper
opportunities for being considerate and kind have not yet really arrived.
Our task is to allow faith, hope and love to be more vital, more operative, day by day,
everyday. The more mature our Christian faith, hope and love become, the more we will look
upon each day as a renewed opportunity for allowing Jesus to live in and through us. We
will increasingly come to see with a clearer vision that the possibilities and
opportunities for Christian holiness are inserted deeply and firmly within the framework
of everydayness. Yes, that’s where they exist, and in bountiful measure.
Life can be hard. Sometimes the harshness of life seems all too much for us. We would
like to withdraw from the mainstream of the human condition, and hide, curled up, in a far
away corner of human existence where this harshness of life cannot touch us. There, we
think, we can feel so peaceful, and warm, and secure. But we know this is unrealistic
thinking. We know such thoughts, pleasant as they may seem at times, are, in reality,
flights of fantasy.
And yet we do need alleviation from the harshness of life. We need means whereby its
blows are softened, or compensated for. One of these means is to allow the tenderness of
life to exercise its proper role. God intends this. He has planted the touch of tenderness
in the work of His creation. We see many examples of this in the animal kingdom. A mother
dog, for instance, playfully and tenderly paws her little pups.
God has also made the human heart for tenderness. The human heart of Jesus is the
perfect example of this. More than once Jesus displayed a sense of manly tenderness. We
can picture Jesus saying: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone
those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, and you refused! (Mt. 23:37)
God has made us, then, to experience touches of tenderness. We need to open ourselves
to this tenderness of life. If we do not, can we long endure the painful and brutal
dimension of life? If there were not touches of tenderness, who could properly endure the
death of loved ones, or sickness, or emotional distress, or loneliness?
The tenderness of life assumes many diverse forms. There is the tenderness which unites
man and wife—the touch and the look and the kiss of tenderness. There is the maternal
touch of tenderness—and because of it the baby feels secure, wanted, loved. There is
the warm, receptive smile of a friend. The gentle, encouraging word is also a form of
tenderness. Husky athletes visiting a hospital for crippled children offer a touching
scene also. Perhaps clumsily, yet very sincerely and tenderly, these hulking men stroke a
young brow or caress the blond hair of a little disabled child. Food baskets delivered to
the poor at Christmas are other reminders to us that the tender, loving concern of the
human heart, in some degree at least, still looks out for the world’s disinherited. A
mother, tearfully and joyfully embracing her son returned from war’s battlefields,
offers a classic scene ranking high on the list of manifestations of life’s
tenderness. Two little boys, one black and one white, hugging one another in their gleeful
playfulness—a tender scene like this can do much to diminish the harsh blemish of
prejudice.
Nature also offers us signs of tenderness. There is the delicate touch of snowflakes
against the cheek, or the gentle fall of a steady rain. Rolling meadows offer their soft
bed of greenness for springtime picnics. And the soft breeze lies tender against the brow
made warm by the summer’s sun.
We can act falsely grown-up, and tell ourselves we don’t need the tenderness of
life, saying that to be very much concerned with it is a sign of childishness or weakness.
We can say all this—but that will not change the fact that God has delicately woven
the touch of tenderness into the tapestry of human life. To be open properly to the
tenderness of life is simply to recognize one of the dimensions of our humanity. It is to
be more human and happier than we would otherwise be.
end of excerpt
Excerpt from Blue Book 18 - March 5, 1998
Rosary
The Crowning with Thorns
4.
R. He was handed
over to the men. And in the end, all authority will be under His feet.
The priests must teach the people to be the spouse of the Lamb. The
priest is the one that is to teach the people to be a greater spouse to
the Almighty God. Do they know how to be great lovers, to have a love
relationship with the Almighty God in the Spirit? And what do we do
about this? The answer is in consecration. It is in going to the heart
of the woman (Mary) where the Holy Spirit works to bring them into the
light. We must spread the consecration to the priests. There is not
another way. They must be brought forth in the woman clothed with sun.
And so He said that He was very disappointed at the response of the
priests to come to the site in Florida. We are to respect our priests
who give to us the Holy Eucharist, who He has called to be a priest. He
has given them this great gift. What can we do about this?
We must pray for our priests. For the devil wants the
priests stopped. He wants the Eucharist stopped. He wants the
building destroyed down here. This is a battle. This is
a war. Do you hear the words of the Good Shepherd? Will you pray for the
priests with me and pray for the renewal of the Church and the world?
This is the answer. It is not in complaints. I only repeat what Jesus
has told me of lamenting in what He wants in His priests. “I want this
for My priests.”
I went to Communion yesterday, and I saw Him, the
Bridegroom of my soul, dressed in black. And I went up to the altar and
I received Him in the Eucharist in such oneness with Him. All that I
wanted is to be this one with my Spouse, Jesus Christ. We must instruct
the priests about the ways of the heart. Jesus writes this
Priestly Newsletter
through Fr. Carter to
lead them to the Heart of Jesus, that when they speak the word it will
be alive in their hearts, not just words spoken from their lips. But
this will only happen when they give their heart to Mary and they’re
brought forth in the light.
Christ came into the world in the womb of the Virgin
Mary and He was brought forth. He is the Light of the world. “And the
Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.” And the Incarnation goes on
in our lives as we are formed more and more in this spiritual womb, the
Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy
Spirit, and brought forth children of light, more and more in His image
and likeness. It is consecration.
We cannot ignore Our Lady at Fatima. And so it is
private revelation. What happened to Zechariah when He decided to
question the angel? Did Mary pay attention to the angel? Do we pay
attention to the voice of the Good Shepherd? For all that He gives here
is rooted in truth. It is all theologically correct, according to the
Scriptures, for there is not one word that is released that has not been
discerned by Fr. Carter who has a doctor’s in theology. I ask you to
listen to the voice that speaks through me and to pray for your priests,
to help us to spread these prayers to this world, to pray for the
renewal of the Church and the world, to help to spread the
Priestly Newsletter
to the priests.
Do we have our will or His will? He gives to us the plan
of the Father. He reveals it to us. What good does it do us if God is
asking for one thing and we do something else? Because it is a good
thing. He is asking us to do His will. At this moment, I could be
teaching about hyperboles and equations, but He took my voice away and
didn’t give it back until I did what He wanted me to do. Many times, He
allows us to suffer to help us to know His will, and indeed it is a
great gift. For the Father has a plan. And there will only be peace in
our hearts when we are doing His will.
end of excerpt
From The Spiritual
Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J.
p.25
46. PRAYER.
In the preparatory prayer I will beg God
our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions,
and operations may be directed purely to the
praise and service of His Divine Majesty.
Shepherds of
Christ Priestly Newsletter 2000 Issue 3
The Father's Will for
Us - Our Source of Peace
-
Pope John Paul II
instructs us: "The Church, as a reconciled and
reconciling community, cannot forget that at the source
of her gift and mission of reconciliation is the
initiative, full of compassionate love and mercy, of
that God who is love (see 1 John 4:8) and who out of
love created human beings (see Wisdom 11:23-26; Genesis
1:27: Psalms 8:4-8)…He created them so that they might
live in friendship with Him and in communion with one
another.
"God is faithful to His
eternal plan even when man, under the impulse of the
evil one (see Wisdom 2:24) and carried away by his own
pride, abuses the freedom given to him in order to love
and generously seek what is good, and (instead) refuses
to obey his Lord and Father. God is faithful even when
man, instead of responding with love to God’s love,
opposes Him and treats Him like a rival, deluding
himself and relying on his own power, with the resulting
break of relationship with the One who created him. In
spite of this transgression on man’s part, God remains
faithful in love.
"It is certainly true
that the story of the Garden of Eden makes us think
about the tragic consequences of rejecting the Father,
which becomes evident in man’s inner disorder and in the
breakdown of harmony between man and woman, brother and
brother (see Genesis 3:12 ff; 4:1-16). Also significant
is the Gospel parable of the two brothers (the parable
of the ‘prodigal son’; see Luke 15:11-32) who, in
different ways, distance themselves from their father
and cause a rift between them. Refusal of God’s fatherly
love and of His loving gifts is always at the root of
humanity’s divisions.
"But we know that
God…like the father in the parable (of the prodigal
son), does not close His heart to any of His children.
He waits for them, looks for them, goes to meet them at
the place where the refusal of communion imprisons them
in isolation and division. He calls them to gather about
His table in the joy of the feast of forgiveness and
reconciliation.
"This initiative on God’s
part is made concrete and manifest in the redemptive act
of Christ, which radiates through the world by means of
the ministry of the Church."
13
13. Pope John Paul II, as
in Celebrate 2000!, Servant Publications, pp.
140-141.
Priestly Newsletter Book II -
September/October 1997
Scriptural Reflections
In all
this Mary offers an example. Selfishness was totally foreign to
her. She did not belong to herself. She belonged to God. She was
not closed in upon herself. She was completely open to God. When
God spoke, she listened. When God pointed the way, she followed.
She realized that life is not a process a person masters by
carefully mapping out one's own self-conceived plans of
conquest, but a mystery to be gradually experienced by being
open to God's personal and loving guidance.
Selfishness, then, did not close Mary off from God's call.
Neither did fear. God asked her to assume a tremendous
responsibility. He asked her to be the Mother of Jesus. Mary did
not engage in a process of false humility and say that such a
great role was above her. She did not say that she did not have
the proper qualifications for this awesome mission. Briefly, she
did not waste time looking at herself, making pleas that she was
not worthy, telling the angel he had better go look for someone
else. No, Mary did not look at herself. Her gaze was absorbed in
God. She fully realized that whatever God asked of her, His
grace would accomplish. She fully realized that although she
herself had to cooperate, this work was much more God's than
hers.
Mary's words, then, truly sum up what is the authentic Christian
response at any point of life, in any kind of situation: "I am
the handmaid of the Lord," said Mary, "let what you have said be
done to me".
R.
We see God with awe
We don't wish to disrespect
or offend Him – ever –
Looking on the Crucifix –
From St. Ignatius
What have I done for Christ?
What am I now doing for Christ?
What ought I to do for Christ?
Given
October 29, 2016
R.
Please spread blessed holy water
(You can also mix Jesus and Mary water
with your blessed Holy Water if you have it.)
in your yard, around your house,
in the state you live in.
And ask God to bless your state
Ask God to bless the United States
Pray all prayers through the intercession of
Our Lady of CLEAR – WATER.
Ask the Lady of CLEAR - WATER
to help with the blessed water.
Mary has appeared to me for 22 years,
in Ohio and Florida.
Give
the gift that Counts
God's Blue Books - Love Letters from Jesus
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Blue Books 14, 15, 16 & 17 - $5 each
Shepherds of Christ Book Store
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Colorea 1
las vidas de Jesús
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las vidas de Jesús
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Colorea 5
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Inspiring Homilist & Author
Fr. Joseph Robinson has dedicated his life to
serving Christ and the Church for over 40 years.
| Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
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Fr. Edward J.
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Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena
Holy Spirit Novena by: Rita Ring
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Holy
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Imprimatur with 18 scripture readings for two complete
novenas – this very powerful Holy Spirit Novena has prayers
for prayers for Protection by the Blood of Jesus, Healing,
Strength and Light, To Be One with God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, One with Jesus, To Dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and
Mary, Prayer for the Holy Spirit and His Gifts, and the Word
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Shepherds of Christ Prayer
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Prayers
Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
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Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual.
The Shepherds of Christ has prayer chapters all over the
world praying for the priests, the Church and the world.
These prayers that Father Carter compiled in the summer
of 1994 began this worldwide network of prayer.
Currently the prayers are in eight languages with the
Church’s Imprimatur. We have prayed daily for the
priests, the Church, and the world since 1994.
Associates are called to join prayer Chapters and help
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Blue Crystal Rosary
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Given March 21, 2014
R. Pray for These Things
1) Pray for the Pope & hierarchy to help us start prayer chapters.
2) Pray for Dan, Sally Jo, Richard, Carol, Margaret, Sue,
Jack, Jean, Amanda, Matthew, Special intentions.
3) Pray
for the priests, the Church and the world!
4) Pray for the spread of prayer chapters,
also for the spread of priests doing prayer chapters.
5) Pray for the spread of Blue Books.
6) People going to Florida and China.
7) Vocations to all 7 categories.
8) Pray for spread of Consecration and Rosary.
9) Pray for pope helping us.
10) Pray for Jeff
- sales &
health. Pray for Nick.
11) Blue Book 18 and cover and all
involved.
For our Publisher and all involved
12) All intentions on
my list, Jerry's list.
13) Priests getting Fr. Joe's book.
14) Pray for Fr. Joe's new book, cover & funds for printing & postage.
15) Donors and members and their families.
16) Healing of the Family tree.
17) Dan & Melanie, Catherine & mom, Gary, Mary Jo,
Jim & statues, Fr. Ken, Monsignor, Kerry, Tom & wife.
18) All who asked us to pray for them.
19) All we promised to pray for.
20) Rita, John, Doris, Sheila, Jerry, Regina, Sanja,
Betty, Sophie, Lisa, Eileen, Fr. Mike, Louie, Laverne,
2 Dons, Mary Ellen, Fr. Joe, all priests helping us,
Ed, Jimmy, Steve, a special couple,
Rosie & all involved.
21) 2 babies and moms.
22) Funds and insurance.
23) Jerry's garage.
24) In thanksgiving for gifts, graces, & blessings received.
25) Spread the Blood of Jesus on all of us here.
26) Consecrate all hearts.
27) Cast the devil out of all of us here and all in Movement.
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