| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
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| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
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December 9, 2018
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December 10th Holy Spirit Novena |
The Novena Rosary
Mysteries |
Pray for Fr. Mike, Dan, Jimmy, Mary
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.
December 9, 2018 - Second Sunday of Advent
R. Jerusalem like a mother watching
the return of her exiled children.
Our Lady appears and cries out
today for the children being lost
now to the fires of hell.
2nd Sunday of Advent
December 9, 2012
(Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6) In today’s first reading, we hear from Baruch, the secretary of Jeremiah the prophet. He lived during the Babylonian exile over 500 years before Christ. Our first reading has the Babylonian invasion and destruction of Jerusalem as its background. Baruch speaks to the devastated city of Jerusalem and tells it to rejoice for it will prosper again. With the vision of a prophet, he tells Jerusalem to look east (toward Babylon) and see God gathering his people together to bring them back home. It is indeed a message of hope. This return of the exiles to Jerusalem is also poetically described in the Book of the prophet Isaiah. John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah, borrows from Isaiah to describe his own mission.INTRODUCTION –
Baruch 5: 1-9
Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow
and distress,
put on the beauty of God’s glory
for evermore,
wrap the cloak of God’s saving justice
around you,
put the diadem of the Eternal One’s glory
on your head,
for God means to show your splendour
to every nation under heaven,
and the name God gives you
for evermore will be,
‘Peace–through–Justice,
and Glory–through–Devotion’.
Arise, Jerusalem, stand on the heights
and turn your eyes to the east:
see your children reassembled
from west and east
at the Holy One’s command,
rejoicing because God has remembered.
Though they left you on foot
driven by enemies,
now God brings them back to you,
carried gloriously, like a royal throne.
For God has decreed the flattening
of each high mountain,
of the everlasting hills,
the filling of the valleys
to make the ground level
so that Israel can walk safely
in God’s glory.
And the forests and every fragrant tree
will provide shade
for Israel, at God’s command;
for God will guide Israel in joy
by the light of his glory,
with the mercy and saving justice
which come from him.
R. So we see in the Psalm those returning
home filled with joy –
Psalm 126: 1-6
Song of the returning exiles
When Yahweh brought back Zion's captives
we lived in a dream;
then our mouths filled with laughter,
and our lips with song.Then the nations kept saying, 'What great deeds
Yahweh has done for them!'
Yes, Yahweh did great deeds for us,
and we were overjoyed.Bring back, Yahweh, our people from captivity
like torrents in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
sing as they reap.He went off, went off weeping,
carrying the seed.
He comes back, comes back singing,
bringing in his sheaves.
R. Epistle of joy
We are to be filled with joy to the
last day –
Philippians 1: 4-6, 8-11
and every time I pray for you all, I always pray with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the very first day up to the present. and every time I pray for you all, I always pray with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the very first day up to the present. I am quite confident that the One who began a good work in you will go on completing it until the Day of Jesus Christ comes.
For God will testify for me how much I long for you all with the warm longing of Christ Jesus; it is my prayer that your love for one another may grow more and more with the knowledge and complete understanding that will help you to come to true discernment, so that you will be innocent and free of any trace of guilt when the Day of Christ comes, entirely filled with the fruits of uprightness through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.
R. Freedom is in letting go of inordinate
attachments, pride, anger, jealousy,
envy, slothfulness, lust and gluttony.
Freedom is not disobeying structure,
rules, being obnoxiously selfish –
doing whatever whim satan tells
a person to do – unpredictability etc.
Freedom is living by God's will
in love. Freedom is recognizing
reality - that God is above –
Divine and has all the power –
A person who is employed under
another above them, in authority –
is not free to disregard structure,
disobey laws and rules and
provoke and punish people at
the job because they want
to get away with this and
because they lie and cover up
the evil –
Obnoxious you say –
Well God is the Creator and in His
love for us He gave us life
and made us creatures under
Him, but He is the ruler
and He is all powerful,
it's like us getting a dog and
letting him - knock us over –
bite us and run us out in
the dog-house –
Joy is in freedom –
Freedom is in obedience to God,
Our Creator, Ruler, Redeemer
and Savior –
Disciplining ourselves under God
brings joy –
Joy is in God –
Happiness is in God –
We are here to prepare - prepare
for eternal life –
We were created in the image and likeness
of God –
We are to obey God's laws –
This brings joy –
We are to know, love and serve
God –
This brings joy
Advent is a time to prepare!!
Prepare our hearts –
In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar's reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the territories of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, and while the high-priesthood was held by Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah, in the desert. He went through the whole Jordan area proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaiah the prophet:
A voice of one that cries in the desert:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight!
Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be levelled,
winding ways be straightened
and rough roads made smooth,
and all humanity
will see the salvation of God.
2nd Sunday of Advent
December 9, 2012
Christ came down to us to lead us to God. He came from on high, the Son of God, co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and took on our human flesh. St. John says it so simply: “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” This mystery of God becoming human is expressed theologically in the term: Incarnation. We say it every Sunday: “by the Holy Spirit, (he - Jesus) was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”HOMILY –
We are preparing to celebrate his birth among us. We tend to celebrate many births, but Jesus’ birth is indeed worth celebrating. It was an event that had no equal. It was not only marvelous because it was God coming among us, sharing in our own human flesh, but as I said when I started, he came down to us in order to lead us to God. Bringing us to God is the main theme of today’s readings. The liturgy uses the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to their home in Jerusalem as a symbol of our coming to God. Baruch explains it so beautifully in today’s first reading: “God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory.” John the Baptist quotes Isaiah when he describes his mission to prepare for the coming of our Savior. He said he was “a voice crying out in the desert: prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John was calling people to holiness so that God himself could lead them.
It is to holiness that our liturgy is calling us today. As we celebrate Christ’s birth, is our celebration going to bring us a little closer to God, or is it just a ritual of parties and just wearing ourselves out. Coming closer to God, knowing his presence and his love for us is what it is all about. John the Baptist is speaking to us today: “make straight his paths.” Get obstacles out of his way so he can fill our lives with his presence.
This is an ongoing effort for we are always called to grow in our relationship with God.
There are many ways we can prepare spiritually. I am going to offer two things that might help. One is the little booklet at the doors of the church called the
Word Among Us. It has the scripture readings for every day of Advent and gives a brief reflection on them. It probably wouldn’t take more than five or ten minutes to read and reflect on. As I said last week, the hardest thing about prayer is sitting down to do it.The other thing I wish to offer is my homily book. It follows the Sunday readings for this year. It has most of the homilies I preached three years ago when we were reading from Luke’s gospel (cycle C). They are not the same homilies I am preaching this year even though the readings are the same. So the homily book will give you another perspective on the Scriptures for each Sunday.
There is one more thing I want to mention, which has nothing to do with anything I’ve said so far, but I need to say it. We are going to discontinue burning candles at the side altars. We now have two electric vigil light stands. Personally I never cared for the electric type, but many churches now use them. They are easier and less expensive to maintain, and most of all they do not smoke up the walls and the ceiling. We just spent a
lot of money to make our church clean and beautiful and it doesn’t make much sense to smoke it up again. Sometimes in lighting the candles, the taper or stick fell into the candle and it started a fire. It never caused a major problem, it was just a smelly one when the plastic started to burn. To light a candle simply press a button. It will burn for five days. The offering is still the same: $2.00. Making an offering and saying a little prayer is part of the ritual of burning a candle in Church. It is the same as before as long as the sacrifice of an offering, a little prayer and the intention is there. And it will help keep our church clean. Right now we have only two vigil light stands. If we need to get one or two more we will, depending on their use. I just wanted to explain what we did and why we did it.And now as we continue the Mass, may the Lord fill you with the peace and joy that only he can give as you prepare to celebrate the birth of his Son. Amen.
R. The Immaculate Conception.
But Yahweh God called to the man. 'Where are you?' he asked. 'I heard the sound of you in the garden,' he replied. 'I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.' 'Who told you that you were naked?' he asked. 'Have you been eating from the tree I forbade you to eat?' The man replied, 'It was the woman you put with me; she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.' Then Yahweh God said to the woman, 'Why did you do that?' The woman replied, 'The snake tempted me and I ate.'
Then Yahweh God said to the snake, 'Because you have done this,
Accursed be you
of all animals wild and tame!
On your belly you will go
and on dust you will feed
as long as you live.
I shall put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
it will bruise your head
and you will strike its heel.'The man named his wife 'Eve' because she was the mother of all those who live.
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.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2005
HOMILY – (Gen. 3,9-15,20; Luke 1,26-38) The feast today is about Mary’s conception, that from the instant she began to exist on this earth, indeed from her very conception, she was holy, filled with God's grace and without sin. The gospel today can confuse us somewhat because it tells us about Jesus’ conception. It was read today, first of all, because there is no gospel telling us about the moment when Mary was conceived. And secondly today’s gospel does give us an important piece of information about Mary related to today’s feast. The angel greeted her as: “Full of grace.” Our feast celebrates what the angel stated. There was no moment in Mary’s life when God’s grace did not fill her. She was full of grace.
As we listen in on this conversation between Mary and the Angel, we learn not only about Mary but also about the child she is going to have. Mary’s son to be would be Son of the Most High and king forever. Her child will be called “holy, the Son of God.” In the midst of all our business, we pause on this Holy Day to think what it is we are happy about at this time of year.
This is why Mary was “full of grace,” so she could give birth to the source of all holiness and grace, God’s own Son. And why did he come to us? So that we too can become holy. This is what St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading: “God chose us in him to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
Holiness is something few people strive for. All of us want to get to heaven, but most of us would probably tend to say I just want to get inside the door. We should do more than just try to get inside the door. We are called to be holy. Most of us never think that becoming holy is our vocation. We usually think holiness is for someone else, like the saints or people in religious orders. That’s because we do not understand holiness. We think being holy means spending all day praying or wearing ourselves out doing good things for others and never having a chance to have any fun. I think holy people probably have as much fun as any of us, but there’s something greater than fun. It is joy and peace and love. To be holy means to be close to God. The closer we are to God, the more we will be filled with love and joy and peace - both in this life and throughout eternity.
Our vocation to holiness is illustrated by the two stories we heard today.
The first story was about our first parents who originally were very close to God and were very happy. That was the symbolism of the Garden of Eden. But that wasn’t good enough for them. They wanted to be like God himself. So they rebelled against God and they lost all they had.
The second story, the annunciation, illustrates Mary’s constant attitude of being willing to say “yes” to God. It was only through her openness that the Son of the Most High has come to us. St. Luke tells us Mary was not only holy and always ready to do whatever God wanted of her, but he also tells us she was joyful. Holiness and joy are connected. After the angel left Mary, St. Luke told us about Mary visiting her cousin and she was full of joy. She expressed her joy in the beautiful hymn “the Magnificat.” My soul gives glory to the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
In reflecting on the holiness of Mary, we may feel as if we were treated unfairly. We were born with original sin. The deck was stacked against us from the beginning. But we forget that when we were baptized we were filled with God’s life. The very same grace that filled Mary at the moment of her conception, filled us when we were baptized. So holiness is possible for us too. Our two stories can show us there are two ways each of us can go in life. We can follow the example of our first parents, Adam and Eve, or we can follow the example of Mary. The first will lead to sorrow, the other to joy. To imitate Mary, all we have to do is say “yes” to whatever God asks of us.
December 9, 2018
Mary: I appear, I appear, I appear and I
am ignored.
I am Mary, the New Eve, perfect
handmaid of Jesus –
My soul magnifies the Lord –
God is my Creator –
And God chose me to be the
Mother of God –
I am Mary, Mother of God, your
Mother, the New Eve, Mother
at your side –
I love my children – God the Father
allowed me to appear to tell
you heaven is real, hell
is real and so many souls,
my children are going to
hell eternally – why would you fight
God when God gave you such signs
for your feeble, willful minds –
 Mary by day July 5, 2000 |
 by night July 5, 2000 |
Mary: Why would you not even understand
how Adam and Eve sinned and were
thrown from the Garden of Paradise –
My soul doth magnify the Lord –
You are children, you are dependent
on God – you are enslaved when
you give into satan and impudently
disobey God, like He doesn't exist –
My children - you need God –
you are not independent –
you are dependent on God –
When you think you can do a
better job than God - you
get in trouble –
God is in charge - You are
operating on God's clock –
When you pray from the heart –
God listens to your prayers
and what Father would not
send what the child needs –
You can't run God –
impudence and gaul to
try to boss God on your schedule –
Moses had to hold up his hands –
You must run and not get weary –
Pray and not tire –
I am Mary, your Mother, perfect
handmaid of Jesus –
2nd Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2015
(Baruch 5, 1-9; Philippians 1, 4-6.8-11; Lk. 3, 1-6) When we hear today’s first reading, the psalm response, and the gospel, we need to hold in our mind the Babylonian exile. In 587 BC the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the Temple, and enslaved thousands of Jews and took them as exiles to Babylon, 700 miles away (which is Iraq today). Try walking that 700 miles through mountains and desert. Baruch (our first reading) promises God would bring his people home. Just remember this is poetry so you will find his description of the return is greatly exaggerated (such as being lifted high as on royal thrones, and the mountains being leveled down). The psalm refrain is a song of rejoicing after the exile has ended – some 50 years later. 500 years after the exile we are in the era of Jesus and John the Baptist. In our gospel today, John the Baptist borrows Isaiah’s description of the return from exile, also in poetic language, and applied Isaiah’s words to his own ministry. John was a voice in the desert calling all people to prepare themselves for the salvation God was about to make known to all flesh.INTRODUCTION -
HOMILY
- Our gospel ends by saying “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” There are about 7.3 billion people in the world today. The population increases at a rate of 200,000 people a day. How is God going to accomplish that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God?” We can see God at work through John the Baptist who had the job of revealing God’s saving love until he was martyred by Herod Antipas. John and Jesus had worked together for a time, then when John was gone, Jesus, with great compassion and miraculous powers, continued the mission of the Baptist calling people to repentance. When Jesus eventually returned to his Father in heaven, he commissioned his apostles to continue on with his mission to save the world. The Apostles passed that mission on to others (such as St. Nicholas whose feast is today). Through millions of other Apostles and evangelists, the saving work of God continues even to this very day and will continue on until all God’s work is done, a work that we share. The Church continues to call people to repentance and to prepare their hearts for the salvation of God. For example, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy, which begins this Tuesday. Pope Francis calls mercy “the bridge that connects God and God’s people, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness. It is the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.” Misericordiae Vultus 1-3 We will soon be celebrating God’s coming to meet us 2000 years ago, which is an event most worthy of celebration. He will come to meet us at the end of time to gather his faithful ones into his kingdom. He comes to meet us in our everyday lives day after day, in our prayers and in our work, in our joys and even in our crosses. As we prepare to celebrate with love and joy his coming 2000 years ago, let us seek through prayer or reading or doing good works to meet him with greater love each day. In this way you will be a part of God’s work by which it may eventually happen that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Amen.
Mary: Think of the private life of Jesus –
Satan wants drama –
Attention, chaos, confusion –
If anyone had a reason to speak
it was Jesus and He lived the
quiet life for 30 years –
Watch a man who follows
satan – creating drama
seeking attention – trying
to block God's plan –
creating a stirring of the pot for
utter bedlam –
Look at the man giving into
satan – with drama,
clamor, seeking selfish
attention and lies
as if they have more than
the plan of the heavenly Father.
Clamor and chaos –
Seeking power-over, so others
fall under them –
Do you not see the demonic
activity –
so far from the holiness of God!
The Hidden life of Jesus –
the fool who clamors to
oppose the heavenly Father's will.
Jesus comes quietly, Body, Blood,
Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist –
no trumpets - no attention getters –
no clowns trying to get
the attention during the
Mass –
The Mass, the sacrifice of Calvary,
sacramentally made present.
Satan makes a circus of
an ordinary day by those who serve
satan and the outcome is misery
and clamor – unpredictability,
heartache, pouring poison
wherever he drops his fangs!!
Disgusting –
Satan is a prowling lion –
looking for one to devour –
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. Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
R. Look at the Silence of the
Hidden Life of Jesus –
The Scripture about the
Presentation and Simeon –
the Flight into Egypt –
the Finding in the Temple –
just makes Christ's infancy
more evident!
How much attention did St. Joseph,
Foster Father of Jesus seek –
He served Mary and Jesus
living by God's will in
love and purity –
Mary, Mother of Jesus – suffering
in the 7 Sorrows - was
she blowing a horn – NO –
was she parading around – NO
she kept all these things in her heart –
Mary is the perfect handmaid of Jesus –
Mary loved the will of God –
Priestly Newsletter Book II - September/October 1997
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".
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.
R. Mary kept all this in her heart!
The quiet life of the Holy Family
R. Jesus shows us how to live –
The Son of God lived in childhood, a quiet life,
a hidden life, an ordinary life!
St. Joseph worked –
Jesus helped –
Jesus, the Son of God, served His Father –
Jesus did the Father's will –
We see how important it is to
have a strong interior life
rooted in God –
We too can ponder and meditate
on God's love in our hearts –
God's mysteries – in our hearts –
peace, love and joy in the
interior life rooted in
God –
Living in the moment –
being free to live what is
going on –
not enslaved so we can't
even think about people
and places and hearts
that surround us –
A person enslaved to satan is
like a clogged toilet –
They aren't free to experience
life in Christ –
the Christ-life
Life in the Spirit –
People enslaved to satan
just keep living in the
unpredictable, numbness
of satan –
they aren't living at all –
Are not in touch with their hearts
and that center of Life in Him –
This Movement is about dwelling
in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary –
and Mary takes us deeply
in love to the Heart of Jesus and
Jesus takes us to the
bosom of the Father, in the Holy Spirit.
We find God in the interior of our soul.
Life is in Him –
Life in the interior life –
Communion, oneness with God!!
Song: Your Presence Pervades My Soul
R. God is order – NOT DISORDER!
We communicate in our hearts
to God!
This is needed for holiness!
This is needed for religious life!
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
R. Intimacy and Union with God
From the Holy Spirit Novena
Prayer to Be One with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
We long for You, Oh Spirit of Light, we long to know God, we want to be one with Him, our Divine God. We want to be one with the Father, know Him as a Person most intimately. We want to know the beloved One, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and live and dwell in Him at all times, every moment of our lives. We want to be one with You, Oh Spirit of Light, that You move in us in our every breath.
Prayer to Be One in Jesus
Let us experience life in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so we can say as Saint Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me...." Let us live, united to the Mass, all through the day being one in Him. Let us be able to love and know in this elevated state of oneness with our God. We long for Thee, oh beauteous God, we love You, we love You, we love You. We praise You, worship You, honor You, adore You, and thank You, our beloved God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Prayer to Dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
We seek to be one in God, to live and dwell in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, our little heaven on earth, to experience life in the all perfect, pure, sinless heart of our Mother. We want the Holy Spirit to move in us and to be united to Jesus as the Bridegroom of our souls and be a most perfect sacrifice offered to the Father at every moment as we unite in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass around the world to help in the salvation of souls.
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.
25 1/2 Years Ago
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. Jesus must be King & Center
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.
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
Blue Books 1 & 2 - $4 each
Blue Book 3 - $3
Blue Books 4 & 5 - $2 each
Blue Books 6A, 6B, 6C, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 - $3 each
Blue Books 14, 15, 16 & 17 - $5 each
| Rita Ring | ||||
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Mass Book,
by Rita Ring: Many of the entries in the Priestly Newsletter
Volume II from a spiritual journal came from this book.
These entries |
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Rosary Meditations
for Parents and Children,
by Rita Ring, Short Meditations for both
parents and children to be used when
praying the |
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God's Blue Book I by Rita Ring. Open Anywhere This book will change your life. These are beautiful love letters to us from Jesus. A million books have been printed and circulated. Jesus loves us so much He wants a personal relationship with us He wants us to go to the Eucharist and be with Him before the tabernacle. $10 |
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God's Blue Book II by Rita Ring. Letters from Jesus about His on fire love Jesus wants this great intimacy with us On fire love Personal love letters from Jesus about the love of His Heart A book on surrender Fr. Carter said! $10 |
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God's Blue Book III by Rita Ring. Fr. Carter's favorite book It is about loving and forgiving each other Being pure in heart A book for unity in family, community, in life!! $10 |
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God's Blue Book IV by Rita Ring. This book is about the love Jesus has for Mary and Mary has for Jesus and Jesus and Mary have for us It is truly the Love of the Two Hearts. Mary appeared every day at the Holy Spirit Center Fr. Carter was there. Mary's first apparition July 5, 1994. $5 |
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God's Blue Book V by Rita Ring. Jesus wants to be the bridegroom of our soul He is our beloved Jesus tells us about pure love how we are to be pure of heart and love God and love others. It is a must, to hear about love from Jesus Jesus is love $5 |
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God's Blue Book 6A by Rita Ring. Rosaries from Their Hearts during apparitions. Jesus and Mary appeared every day and I received rosaries from Them and They were transcribed from a tape. Also messages of love from Jesus on days of January, 1995 About Baptism writings from Fr. Carter and the Scriptures. $10 |
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God's Blue Book 6B by Rita Ring. Jesus and Mary appeared every day in February, 1995 So beautiful transcribed from a tape the Stations, 7 Sorrows, prayers in the Prayer Manual, the Holy Spirit Novena Book and the Song Book. Pure love loving and forgiving a book about Jesus' love, baptism, grace and Fr. Carter's Newsletter. $10 |
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Apostles Manual. About the Movement — the structure of the Movement All Ministries — from the time 3 months before Mary appeared in Clearwater and 3 months after. Rosaries of the 13ths, Fr. Carter's Newsletters. Messages from God the Father Reaching the priests, the Church, the schools and the world. $20 |
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Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 1. Mary appeared in Clearwater December 17, 1996 in rainbow color and these rosaries left the printer the same day from Apparitions of Jesus and Mary transcribed from a tape. $10 |
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Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 2. This is a book of so many rosaries — transcribed from a tape. So many beautiful rosaries. pages $12 |
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Messages for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This is a big book of loving messages for nursing home people and homebound from Jesus and Mary Their lives are so important united to the Mass offering up their suffering, their lives for the souls of this earth. $10 |
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Short Rosary Meditations for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This book is so important with pictures they can open it and lay it on their laps and pray the rosary. $10 |
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Songs from Jesus Songbook. These loving songs were given from Jesus. So beautiful Love Songs from Jesus of His love — helping us have pure and loving hearts. $3 |
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Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary. Volumes 1 through 7. Coloring books and meditations for grade school children and others on the mysteries of the rosary — really good. $5 each. |
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Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary. Volumes 6 through 7. Coloring books and meditations for grade school children and others on the mysteries of the rosary — really good. $5 each. |
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| Fr. Joe Robinson |
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Guiding Light — The Word Alive in Our Hearts. — Cycle B for 2017/2018 $10.00 |
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Guiding Light — The Soul Who Could. — Cycle A for 2016/2017 $10.00 |
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Guiding Light homily series — Reflect on the Word — Cycle B The Word leaves an impression on our souls. In my thoughts and reflections are born a more tangible understanding of these eternal concepts presented in the Gospels and the readings. Anyone can read a sentence, but not anyone can absorb it's true meaning. Truth, in this day and age, is almost a matter of opinion or individual entitlement. We believe that Christ's truth is our Roman Catholic Church. We, as priests, champion it's teachings; we are ambassadors for the Pope and Christ to those faces looking at us. We are the light by which our congregation reads to reflect upon real truth and we do it hand in hand. $15 |
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Guiding Light homily series — Steadfast to the Son — Cycle A The sunflower is a great example of how we should be steadfastly guided by light. What a powerful thought that this exceptional plant is not stuck in one pose day in and day out, yet adaptable and magnetized to the sun. We feel the same about our Son. Our heads turns to face Christ as each day presents its challenges to find light. We join together like plants in a field and soak up the Son through the pulpit. We are a warm circle of strength using the wind of our breath to carry our priests' words, Christ's words, to new rich soil. $15 |
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Guiding Light — Focusing on the Word — Cycle B At times we may feel that our path to Christ is a bit "out of focus". Like the disciples in the Book of Mark, this ordinary life clouds our vision of Christ's Divinity. We may doubt the practicality or possibility of applying His teachings and example to our modern life. Cycle B's homilies are a "guiding light" to help us realize Jesus' Messianic greatness and His promise of better things to come. $15 |
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Guiding Light — Feed My Soul — Cycle C In a world rapidly advancing and encouraging personal gain, we are faced with modern problems. There is a challenge to find time in our busy schedules for Sunday Mass or a family meal. We are able to research, shop, bank and even work without hearing one human voice. It is no wonder that we may often feel disconnected and famished at our week's end. In Fr. Joe's third book of homilies from Cycle C, we are reminded of the charity that Christ intended us to show each other. We have a calling to turn the other cheek and be the Good Samaritan to others. We are rewarded with the Father's kingdom and love when we are not worthy. We are not left alone or hungry. $15 |
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| Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. |
Here are all the products in this category:
Books written by the founder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries
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Response to God’s Love by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. In this book Fr. Carter speaks of God as the ultimate mystery. We can meditate on the interior life of the Trinity. Fr. Carter tells us about our uniqueness in the Father's Plan for us, how the individual Christian, the Church and the world are in the state of becoming. Imprimatur. $10 |
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Shepherds of Christ — Selected Writings on Spirituality for all People as Published in Shepherds of Christ Newsletter for Priests. Contains 12 issues of the newsletter from July/August 1994 to May/June 1996. $15 |
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Shepherds of Christ — Volume 2: by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains issues 13—29 of the newsletter (September/October 1996 — Issue 5, 1999) $15 |
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Shepherds of Christ — Volume 3 by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains Newsletter Issues 1 through 4 of 2000 including Fr. Carter’s tremendous Overview of the Spiritual Life $10 |
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Tell My People. Messages from Jesus and Mary (As given to Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.) One of Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.'s Synopsis of the Spiritual Life From Jesus to Fr. Carter "On Holy Saturday, 1994, Jesus told me that on the following day, Easter, I would also begin to receive messages for others. Our Lord also told me that some of these were eventually to be published in a book and here is that book." $10 |
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Spirituality Handbook. Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. did 3 synopsis of the spiritual life. The Spirituality Handbook, the Priestly Newsletter 20he Tell My People book. The way of spiritual life proposed to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates is centered in consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. All aspects of the spiritual life discussed below should be viewed as means to help members develop their lives in consecration to Christ, the Sacred Heart, and to Mary, the Immaculate Heart. $3 |
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The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. The Fatima apparitions and messages received official Church approval in 1930. In giving her official approval to the Fatima event, the Church tells us that what took place at Fatima involving the three young visionaries is worthy of our belief. $5 |
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Priestly Newsletter — 2000 #1 — CD. — Christ is Our Strength — Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. read it the year he died. It is so beautiful. "This brief passage contains one of the greatest lessons of the spiritual life. As we progress along our spiritual journey, we become increasingly aware of how weak we are in our—selves, but how strong we are in Christ. To experience our weakness involves suffering. The degree and kind of suffering can vary. The suffering can include the experience of the classical dark night of the spirit as described by St. John of the Cross. One of the main purposes of the dark night is to make a person keenly aware of his or her helplessness without God." quote by Fr. Carter from the newsletter $10 |
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Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena Holy Spirit Novena Booklet. In four languages with the 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 Alive in Our Hearts. All these prayers take about 10 minutes daily recited out loud. $1
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Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena CD
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Shepherds of Christ Prayer
Manual 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 us circulate the newsletter centered on spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and helping to renew the Church through greater holiness. Please form a Prayer Chapter & order a Prayer Manual. |
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Statues/Religious Items |
Statues, Crucifixes, and Religious Artwork
These items are very special additions to your home or place of worship.
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Special 12" Sacred Heart or Immaculate
Heart Statues with Glass
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Special 11" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater
Statue with Glass
White or Ivory gown with gold trim. $ 60.00 each plus shipping |
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Red
Crystal Rosary
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Clear 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.
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
P.O. Box 627 China, Indiana 47250
Telephone: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or (812) 273-8405
FAX: (812) 273-3182
Copyright © 2014 Shepherds of Christ.
Rights for non–commercial reproduction granted:
May be copied in its entirety, but neither re–typed nor edited.
Translations are welcome but they must be reviewed for moral and
theological accuracy by a source approved by Shepherds of Christ Ministries
before any distribution takes place. Please contact us for more information.
