Please pray for Mary, Rita's Sister
 

Pray the Rosary for the World

Please Pray for Fr. Joe & Bob, Rita's Intentions
     

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.  

November 17, 2021

R. Life doesn’t last forever on earth.

When a person we love dies it is really hard. 
 

Every day is special.

Rejoice, today is the day the Lord has made.
Rejoice, Rejoice!

Love makes the world go ‘round.

We should be grateful for those wonderful people put in our lives.
The days go by in petty pace.

Song: Live This Day

 

 

January 27, 1992

I can never live the
moments of this day again.

When I go to bed
today is gone forever.

I must choose to treasure
each moment because
it is the only moment I have and
it only lasts one moment.

 

From a Lenten Homily, March 24, 2000

Live in the Moment

    Today’s Gospel in its story certainly points ahead to Jesus in His Passion and death. And as we read passages such as this during the Lenten season, we are reminded once again that the Church in her Liturgy of the Word gives us an opportunity to undergo a purification, an ever deepening cleansing of ourselves so that we may be a more fit instrument for receiving the great graces which are to be given to us at the time of the Resurrection memorial on Easter. And so all in all, Lent is a time of purification to prepare us for ever-greater gifts of the Lord. It’s a time of self-discipline, a time to renew our efforts to be self-disciplined in the service of the Lord. Self-discipline is an aspect of purification. And I suggest that one of the most difficult acts of self-discipline in the spiritual journey is to concentrate on the present moment. We have a very strong tendency to disregard the importance of the present moment by focusing in a wrong way on the past or in a wrong way on the future. There are proper occasions for thinking of the past and the future. For example, we have to learn from the past and we have to prepare for the future, but our great emphasis has to be upon the present. There is a Latin axiom which says, age quod agis, age quod agis, which means: do what you are doing, concentrate on the present. And of course we are familiar with that term in the history of spirituality: the sacrament of the present moment. And so the discipline of Lent certainly encourages us to include in a deeper self-discipline a greater determination to get as much as we can out of the present moment. People with a terminal illness have an opportunity as they prepare for death for increased prayer, contrition, love of God. However, some are taken very, very quickly. But for those who have the opportunity of knowing with some certainty the time of their death, I’m sure as they look back on their lives, they are saddened by the many times they did not use time and opportunities for the service of the Lord properly, and are overjoyed at those times in which they did use the present opportunity properly. A great means we have of living in the present properly is a greater focus upon our Lord. For if I have that awareness of the fact I am united with Jesus here and now, why should I be concerned so much about the future or the past? Yes, a great help in living in the present and deriving all the good we can from it for ourselves and others is an ever greater focus upon Jesus, because the more I focus upon Jesus and the more I live with Him in the present moment, the more I am satisfied with the present moment. And so let us in our Lenten activity resolve to grow in that self-discipline - which is very difficult at times - to really live in the presence with the fullness of our being as much as is possible, with the help of God’s grace. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of salvation. end of Father Carter's homily

 
R. Today is the day the Lord has made.

Jesus: I love you My precious ones.
   

 

Words of Fr. Carter February 18, 2000 - excerpt

    Well, what should I say to you. It comes to my heart that I should start off telling you about the Holy Family’s house, the little home they lived in, in Nazareth which is now situated/surrounded by a Basilica Church in Loreto, Italy. ... So I really do believe that is the house where Jesus and Mary lived at Nazareth. And one of the first things that strikes you about it is how tiny it is—very, very small—one more indication that Our Lord did not need the trappings of this earth, wealth and palatial surroundings and so forth to prove to show His greatness. He was and is great simply because what He is in Himself, who He is. And we get the same lesson, that’s one of the lessons which comes out of His birth at Bethlehem; ...

    ...I think all of you here at China give a great witness to life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at Nazareth and to the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem. Your life is so simple. It is so hidden and yet like the life of Jesus at Nazareth, it is meant to be redemptive. His life certainly was redemptive those first 33 years of His existence. And I think I said in a homily to you some months ago, that if we had it to plan we certainly would have arranged, I’m sure all of us, Jesus’ life here on earth differently. I don’t think in the depths of our heart if we’re honest with ourselves, if the Father says, “you map out the way you think Jesus, My Son, should live here below in the time allotted,” who of us, who of us would have had Him hidden away for 10/11ths of that mortal life span. We would have given much more time to His public life. And here Jesus under the Father teaches us a great lesson—that we share in His redemptive efforts proportionate to the depth of our love and as that life of love is supported by faith and hope so Jesus takes the most humble places and ...

    And so your life here at China is in such great imitation of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at Nazareth and such great saints as St. Therese of Lisieux, those saints who lived such a hidden existence. And so first of all I thank you for persevering in this life. I think I have some more than ordinary insight into the greatness you are contributing towards the Movement and the Church and the world. So I thank you very profusely and I also highly encourage you to persevere in this life and to pray for the grace to get a deepened insight into just how great your life is here at China for the cause of Christ...

Holy Family of Nazareth pray for us.  end of excerpt

 

Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation

1. Luke 1: 26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favour! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ Mary said, ‘You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.’ And the angel left her. 

2. Sing: The Angel Gabriel

3. Mary said “yes”.

4. Mary loved the Father’s will.

5. Luke 1: 11-17

     Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink; even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.’

6. Sing: Hail Mary to tune of Hail Mary Gentle Woman

7. Sing: Ave Ave Ave Maria

8. Sing: Immaculate Mary

9. Mary loves us more than any earthly mother.

10. Sing: The Rosary Song

 

The Visitation

1. Luke 1: 39-45

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ 

2. Luke 1: 46-55

And Mary said:

My soul proclaims
    the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
    in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon
    the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards
    all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty
    has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age
    to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm,
he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes
    from their thrones
        and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things,
    sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help
    of Israel his servant,
        mindful of his faithful love
—according to the promise
    he made to our ancestors—
of his mercy to Abraham
    and to his descendants for ever.

3. Excerpt from the Red Rosary Book

    April 20, 1995 Joyful Mysteries - Mary Visits Her Cousin Elizabeth

1. Mary: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me." Teach your children how to pray. Teach them when they are young. Your children need to know about God.
2. Mary: Children are so precious to Jesus! My dear little ones, teach your children to pray the rosary.

4. April 20, 1995 continues

3. R. Mary went with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who had conceived a child in her old age
4. R. The child in Elizabeth's womb was John, who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus.

5. April 20, 1995 continues

5. R. When Mary arrived at Elizabeth's house, with Jesus in her womb, the babe in Elizabeth's womb leapt for joy.

6. April 20, 1995 continues

6. Mary: I call out to the children of this world to come and pray. Prepare ye the way, for my Son is truly coming and you will know the immensity of His love. My children, you will be the leaders of this world!

7. April 20, 1995 continues

7. Mary: Model your families after the Holy Family.

8. April 20, 1995 continues

8. Mary: What a price my Son paid for your salvation. He came to show you the way.

9. April 20, 1995 continues

9. Mary: Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, the same as when I carried Him in my womb, the same as the day He walked on the earth! Should you not jump for joy as the babe in Elizabeth's womb jumped?

10. April 20, 1995 continues

10. Mary: My dear little children, I am Mary, your Mother. How dearly I press you to my Heart. I am forever with you!

 

 

The Nativity

1. Sing: Away in a Manger

2. Sing: Angels we have Heard on High

3. Sing: O Come all Ye Faithful

4. Sing: Hark the Harold Angels Sing

5. Sing: A Song from Jesus

6. Sing: O Holy Night

7. Sing: Little Drummer Boy

8. Sing: Do you Hear What I Hear

9. Sing: Silent Night

10. Sing: We Three Kings

 

The Presentation

1 Luke 2: 25-35

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

    Now, Master, you are letting 
        your servant go in peace 
    as you promised; 
    for my eyes have seen the salvation 
    which you have made ready 
        in the sight of the nations; 
    a light of revelation for the gentiles 
    and glory for your people Israel.

As the child’s father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed—and a sword will pierce your soul too — so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'   

2. Song: Little Baby Hands and Feet

3. Song: See the Eyes that Look at Mary

 
 

4. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995

Sorrowful Mother Lighted.

1. The Prophecy of Simeon.

R. Mary and Joseph took the child Jesus into the Temple. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that before he died he would see the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led him into the temple and he saw Mary and Joseph and Jesus. He went over and held the child Jesus. Then he said that he was ready to die and he told Mary that a sword, too, shall pierce your heart, Mary! From that point on, whenever she looked at the child Jesus, she remembered the prophecy of Simeon of how Jesus would suffer. Think of looking at your child and knowing what Mary knew! Her heart through her whole life knew this prophecy. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

5. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995 continues

2. The Flight into Egypt.

R. Joseph and Mary had to flee into Egypt with Jesus. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

6. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995 continues

3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

R. When Jesus was twelve years old they took Him to the Temple for the Feast of the Passover. When it was over, Joseph and Mary left with the caravan and Jesus had been left behind. When they realized that Jesus was not with them, they returned with their hearts sorrowing in search of the child Jesus. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

7. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995 continues

4. On the Way to Calvary Jesus and Mary's eyes Met.

R. The intimacy in that look between the Son and His Mother! The immense love between the two Hearts! The love that these two Hearts have for us and the call of both Jesus and Mary this day to come back to the love of God!

Song: See the Eyes that Look at Mary

8. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995 continues

5. Mary stood under the Cross as Jesus Died.

R. I saw Jesus appear. Jesus loves us so dearly! It is Divine Love He has to outpour to us this day. He wants to give us an outpouring of His grace and love. He remains with us in the Tabernacle truly present in His Divinity and humanity. Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that died on the cross, is present and in our midst this very moment. God loves us so much that He remains with us this day! God is so good to us!

9. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995 continues

6. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and laid in Mary's Arms.

R. See Mary under the cross and they give to her the lifeless body of her Son. She touches her Son and she knows that His body is dead. See that picture so clearly, the picture of the Pieta that you see so much. Think of Mary as she holds the infant child in a horizontal position in her arms and now she holds His lifeless body under the cross. In that picture, if you visualize that, there is so much to see. See the love of the Father that He sent His only begotten Son into this world; God became a man because He loves us so much. See the love that the Son had that He truly gave His flesh and His blood for each one of us. To His death Jesus gave His all for love of us. And Mary, see her with the tears on her face. How can you describe the pain in her heart to hold her Son now lifeless in her arms? Mary is our loving Mother. Mary is my loving Mother. She calls out to us, the Most loving Mother that we could ever imagine! Jesus gave His very own Mother to us! She is calling out to each one of us here, who have been called here this night by Jesus and Mary, to make a commitment to consecrate ourselves to these two Hearts; to be soldiers in this world with our hearts filled with His love! We receive so much grace from sitting in front of the Tabernacle. Pray to be apostles and be able to go out into this world and spread these messages! Pray for the grace from the Holy Spirit to be transformed from fear to fearlessness and to carry the Gospel message with us everywhere we go! What radiates from our being is the love of the God that lives within. She is calling us to grow ever closer in union with Jesus. The greatest thing we can do for this world is to be united to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our hearts, to let Him operate us, to surrender ourselves, to follow the Plan of the Father, the unique plan God has for us to be His soldiers, to march on a world that has forgotten God. But the Power of the Almighty God is Power that cannot be contained. And in our every smile and glance, this love radiates from our being and we touch every person that we look at when we are united to God!

10. The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary - February 2, 1995 continues

7. Jesus is Locked in the Tomb.

R. The cold reality that now Jesus is locked in the tomb and a stone is rolled in front of the tomb and Mary weeps outside so bitterly. But death has no power over Jesus! Locked in the tomb for three days, on the third day He rose triumphant to give us new life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus rose on the third day. The Might of God cannot be contained! His life He pours out to us! He gives us a special sharing in His life in the sacrament of Baptism. He has provided for us so well through the Church. We are His chosen ones! Can we not spread this message to this world that is hurting - that is looking in every nook and cranny for something to satisfy the stocking soul? The only thing that satisfies the soul is the love of God! He calls out to us this day to carry this message to every person we meet for it is in our glance, it is in our smile, that we truly will spread His Gospel message, His love to this world.

 

   

The Finding in the Temple

1. Luke 2: 41-52

Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When the days of the feast were over and they set off home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was somewhere in the party, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere. 

    It happened that, three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ He replied, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he meant. He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people.
 

2. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J., Founder pp. 12-14

God's Will—Our Guiding Principle

The above scene describes how Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple after having been separated from Him. As they were returning home after the Passover celebration, they realized Jesus was not with them, and returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. The scene has various lessons for us concerning God's will.

        3. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

With the Holy Family traveling in two separate groups (Mary with one, Joseph with the other, and Jesus with either from time to time), we understand how Mary and Joseph could have received conflicting stories regarding their Son's whereabouts. The Father's will may have been made known to Jesus in such a way that the timing of His response precluded alerting His parents to the change in His plan. Whatever the details were, we can be assured that there was no error made on the parts of Jesus, Mary, or Joseph. We can base our trust in this on what we know through faith—that Jesus would never have been disobedient or thoughtless toward His parents, and that Mary and Joseph could not possibly have been inept parents.

    4. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

Even so, as people who expect certain behaviors of children and parents, we can be unsettled by some unanswered questions presented. Yet, since this event is included in Sacred Scripture, we know it has tremendous value for us as the Word of God. We also know that obedience to God's will always works in the best interests of everyone concerned, even when it is not obvious, even for quite some time.

    5. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

The scene reminds us of the guiding principle of Jesus' life—loving conformity to His Father's will. Although Mary and Joseph were returning home, in some way Jesus knew He was supposed to remain in the temple at this particular time. His course of action was no different in this instance than it had been in the past and would be in the future. His Father's will was made manifest, and He obeyed; His Father showed the way, and He followed. The Father's will was always Jesus' way, every day, in all matters. As followers of Jesus, His guiding principle must also be ours.

    6.  Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

This event in Christ's life also demonstrates that conformity to God's will sometimes brings hurt or sorrow to loved ones. Jesus knew that His remaining behind would cause suffering for Mary and Joseph—we can well imagine their anxiety. Jesus was sorry this had to be. He certainly was not insensitive to His parent's feelings, yet He had to do what He did. There can be similar situations in our own lives. Precisely because we are striving to seek out and do God's will, we may be causing hurt to loved ones. We know, however, there is no other course of action if we are to be open to God's designs for us.

    7. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

The finding of the child Jesus in the temple illustrates still a further point regarding conformity to God's will. Mary and Joseph knew that somehow it was God's will that Jesus remain in Jerusalem as they themselves headed back to Nazareth. Yet they did not comprehend why all this happened. They recognized God's will, but they did not understand it. They accepted this will, however, along with the pain it produced in their lives.

    8. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

The application of this lesson to our own Christian lives is vividly manifest. At times there occurs an incident we do not understand. We realize that somehow this is God's will, at least His permissive will, yet we do not understand why, and our unknowing is part of our pain.

    9. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

Mary always perfectly conformed herself in love to God's will. It was her joy to so act. Sometimes the doing of God's will caused her considerable suffering, as we see from the above Gospel scene. Later on, the sword of suffering would pierce her even more deeply.

    10. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side - God's Will-Our Guiding Principle continues

In summary, we can say that Mary always reached out and embraced God's will with the deepest love, whether this was easy or very difficult. Mary has left us these famous words: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. (Lk. 1:38). Let us ask our mother to obtain for us the grace to grow in our own conformity to the will of God.