Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing          

February 19, 2014

February 20th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 3 Period I.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries 
for February 20th are Sorrowful.

 

We will be praying at 3:45 p.m. for a special intention

Please help us print Blue Book 12.

Your Donations are appreciated.

 

 

January 2014

Please send me Volume 1, 2 and 3.
(God's Blue Book)

My cousin has these books and they
have been an inspiration in my life,
so I want my own to read everyday!
God Bless

Texas

 

 

February 13, 2014

You people are great!

My son is using Jesus Water for 2 Years
and now his cancer is in remission.

I thank you for suggesting we send it
to him and also thanks for
God's Blue Book 11.

Florida

 

 

February 19, 2014

                R. Life is not life if it is not
                rooted in God.

                    Can you even imagine what it
                would be like to not be able to
                go to the Eucharist, having tasted
                the bread of life, knowing the Word
                and not having a steady diet of the
                Mass, being able to go to Jesus and
                pray before the tabernacle.

                    What gifts we have been given
                to receive Jesus, truly present in
                His Divinity and humanity, to
                go to confession and to know we
                are in the state of grace, that God:
                Father, Son and Holy Spirit live in us.

                    Darkness is being in sin, being
                enslaved to pleasures, things,
                substances that are addictive,
                anger that eats our hearts and
                makes them dull, unforgiveness –
                deep seated that has deadened
                ourselves, blinded ourselves.
                How many times we see the blindness,
                the deafness in the scriptures,
                the hard hearts, brought about
                in the man from holding onto
                sins he should have let go of –
                deep - seated unforgiveness,
                anguishing pride, one living enslaved
                to that pride and trying to prove
                they are always right; oh the
                concupiscence! The man a slave
                to envy and jealousy, whose
                heart can become hard and
                pompous that lose the ability
                to reason as he should because
                of deafness of heart and blindness
                because they don't really want
                to see the truth.

                    There is nothing so despairing
                and not having that place to go
                to know if we died today we
                would go to heaven or at least
                purgatory. This condition of
                not going to heaven or purgatory
                is the worst.

                    The place of knowing - no matter what
                happens - we are in the state of
                grace and if we died we would
                go to heaven or at least purgatory –
                this is the doorway to peace.

                    We choose because we have
                a free will. A person can be a
                habitual liar and tell themselves
                it's okay, a person can hurt
                relationships, rupture relationships
                with people God intended us to
                love and the person can lie to
                themselves about how they do not
                love, do not try to make relationships
                grow. God calls us to love Him and
                love others and love ourselves and
                that means building relationships
                of love, building relationships
                that grow, building unity among
                men – building division is from
                satan – Satan wants jealousy and
                pride and envy and competition and
                coldness and hard hearts and
                being caved in. Satan wants division,
                ruptured relationships, conflict,
                anger and we have a free will
                to be loving or act in the
                unloving ways satan wants –
                self-centered, selfish –

                    God has put us here to learn to love –
                to build lasting relationships of
                love with Him and others and to
                respect ourselves, to respect life.

                    Come to me Lord and possess my soul.

 

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. To seek God's will always –

                    To do what He tells us with respect
                        to authority –

                    God called me to obey just
                        authority under Him –
                        I show Him, I please Him
                        by not making my will in
                        conflict to this obedience.

                 

From the Shepherds of Christ Priestly Newsletter 1999 - Issue 4

God With Us (excerpt)

  • Rita Robinson Ring states: And we see a pillar against a dark sky. We see Jesus against the darkened sky and the Woman beneath and the scene cries out to earth, "Not my will, but Thine be done", not as spoken words, but the very vivid scene of the New Adam, the Pillar of Light, and the New Eve says this. What do you see as you look at the scene of the New Adam and the New Eve, the New Adam hanging from the tree in the place with a garden?

Do you not see the words as if they are almost written across the sky, "Thy will be done"? See her underneath the cross as she holds Him across her knees. His arms lay limp. And the words go across the sky again, "Not My will, but Thine be done". For He did the Father’s will to His death on the cross. He is placed in the tomb as she cries outside. Behold the most sorrowful Mother. Within her Heart is an understanding of the divine mysteries that far exceeds that of any human person. In her sorrow, in her tears, she knew so deeply the great gift that God sent–Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, the Savior of the world. She knew that her Son had to suffer these things in order to enter into the glory of His resurrection.

And on the day of His resurrection, Mary’s tears were now tears of joy. The victory of her Son has now been accomplished, and the victory will last forever. And on that first Easter morning Mary also knew that all of us, her children, are called to share in her Son’s victory– His resurrection–now, and especially in eternal life. She is ever pleading with us that with the help of God’s grace we will do all that is necessary to share as fully as possible in the life of Jesus’ resurrection–here and hereafter. She wants Emmanuel to be with us to the greatest degree possible, now and in eternal life

   

Excerpt from Shepherds of Christ Priestly Newsletter Book III - 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. Peace is in this –
                    I will to love –
                    I will to build relationships –
                    I want only God's will –
                    I accept suffering and
                        know after the death is
                        the resurrection if I stay
                        rooted in His will.

                I know I will suffer and I will
                    be tested –

                I will be called to answer for
                    how I love –
                    under sufferings –

                I am called to love –

                Love is an act of the will –

                God has a Plan for us – when
                    we oppose God's will we
                    are not loving to God –

                Telling ourselves we are free
                    when we oppose God's
                    will is not freedom.

                Freedom is in doing God's will –
                    then we are really free –

                We are always under God –
                    God gives us the commandments.
                    The commandments are given
                        to love God and love
                        others as ourselves.

                    When we lie, we are hurting
                        relationships –
                        When there is killing we
                            are disobeying God's
                            commandments.
 

                Today's Readings

James 1: 19-27

Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to human anger; God's saving justice is never served by human anger; so do away with all impurities and remnants of evil. Humbly welcome the Word which has been planted in you and can save your souls.

    But you must do what the Word tells you and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves. Anyone who listens to the Word and takes no action is like someone who looks at his own features in a mirror and, once he has seen what he looks like, goes off and immediately forgets it. But anyone who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and keeps to it — not listening and forgetting, but putting it into practice — will be blessed in every undertaking.

    Nobody who fails to keep a tight rein on the tongue can claim to be religious; this is mere self-deception; that person's religion is worthless. Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father, is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows in their hardships, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.

 

Psalm 15: 2-5

Whoever lives blamelessly, 
who acts uprightly, 
who speaks the truth from the heart, 
who keeps the tongue under control, 

who does not wrong a comrade, 
who casts no discredit on a neighbour, 
who looks with scorn on the vile, 
but honours those who fear Yahweh, 

who stands by an oath at any cost, 
who asks no interest on loans, 
who takes no bribe to harm the innocent. 
No one who so acts can ever be shaken.

   

Mark 8: 22-26

   They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then, putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked, ‘Can you see anything? The man, who was beginning to see, replied, ‘I can see people; they look like trees as they walk around. Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes again and he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly. And Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’

 

                R. Oh God please forgive us for our sins.

                Oh God please give us wisdom to know
                            Your will and to do it.

                Oh God help us to see our failings.

                Oh God help us to forgive and
                            help us to ask for forgiveness
                            when we need to.

                Oh God help us to seek Your will
                            in all things.

                Our greatest treasure is to know
                    we will be able to go to
                    heaven for all eternity.

                Happiness is in God.

                Obedience to God's will is paramount.

                The Franciscans have 3 knots they
                    wear around their waist to
                    remind them of their vows
                    of poverty, chastity and obedience.

                Jesus showed us how He obeyed
                    His Father's will to His
                    death on the cross.

                Jesus: Seek to do the Father's will.
                    Seek first the Kingdom of heaven –

                R. We need to have a loving relationship
                    with God. When we hurt
                    others sinfully we are doing
                    that to Jesus.

                Building up relationships of love
                    is God's will –
                    It is an act of our will to
                    surrender to God's will.

                We must develop trust in God,
                    be faithful to His plan –
                    we learn to trust and love
                    God and others. 

1 John 4: 17-21

Love comes to its perfection in us when we can face the Day of Judgement fearlessly, because even in this world we have become as he is. In love there is no room for fear, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear implies punishment and no one who is afraid has come to perfection in love. Let us love, then, because he first loved us. Anyone who says 'I love God' and hates his brother, is a liar, since whoever does not love the brother whom he can see cannot love God whom he has not seen. Indeed this is the commandment we have received from him, that whoever loves God, must also love his brother.

 

Matthew 5: 13-16

‘You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet. 

‘You are light for the world. A city built on a hill–top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp–stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. 

 

                R. Valentine's Day was a day in
                    which we talk about
                    love –

                But God is the Source of love –
                    God is the Main - Event –

                We don't do our will as
                    a side show opposing
                    God's will!!
                 

 

                Excerpt from Response in Christ by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. - Chapter 6

SIX    The Christian and Sin (excerpt)

  1. The Nature of Sin

What is the nature of sin? Contemporary theology emphasizes that sin is not primarily a violation of a law, but a disruption of personal relationships. Sin is a refusal to love. Serious sin is a radical refusal to love. Venial sin is a partial refusal to love. 

The most obvious personal relationship that is affected by sin is that between God and the sinner. In sinning a man fails, to a lesser or greater degree, to accept God's loving gift of Himself. He fails also to respond with his own gift of love. In serious sin man refuses intimate friendship with God. In venial sin he dulls the ardor of that friendship. Man, in so far as he sins, maintains that he does not want his life to be directed by the loving hand of his heavenly Father. He wants to be a law for himself; he wants to be the one who decides what is good for himself and what is not. Schoonenberg observes: "Especially in the prophets sin is an aversion from and an unfaithfulness to Yahweh himself; hence it is placed in the heart rather than in the wrong deed. We see that aversion, that rebelliousness, that lack of faith which precede the act of transgressing the Law already in the story of the sin in paradise, where it is presented as the wish of possessing autonomously the knowledge of good and evil, of being independently the Law unto oneself. . .”1 

     1. P. Schoonenberg, Man and Sin (Notre Dame, Indiana: Fides, 1965), p. 8.

 

                R. From dysfunctional homes we may have
                    trouble trusting others –
                    this lack of trust must be healed
                    if we are to grow in relationships –

                We must accept the fact, relationships
                    in our past may have been less
                    than perfect, but we need to heal
                    and build relationships in our
                    lives today if we are to do God's
                    will –
                    not be stuck in an old holding pattern –
                    not be stuck in an old hold-out
                    situation in our heart, not trusting
                    anyone because of the past!!

                We have to let - go of anger and mistrust
                    of old patterned relationships that
                    need healing and
                    open the door to growth and doing
                    God's will in helping us heal and
                    love and trust those He has
                    put in our lives today –

                Love is an act of the will –

                Fear is an enemy when we stay stuck
                    in old bad patterned ways
                    learned as survival tactics
                    in dysfunctional homes!!

                What are your attitudes about family
                    life because of growing up
                    in a dysfunctional home –

                Have you asked God to heal you and prayed
                    to love and trust others to build
                    lasting, loving relationships?

                I give my heart to Jesus and Mary with you in love.

                Do we know what this means?

                Do I admit the painful parts in my
                    past relationships and let go
                    of them by asking God to heal
                    me so I can grow in love
                    today with the people He wants
                    me to help build His Kingdom?

                Am I stuck?

                Can I recognize feelings of anger
                    in myself from a lost
                    childhood because of a
                    dysfunctional home –

                Can I cry for my loss of relationships
                    of love my parents didn't give
                    and ask God to heal me and
                    pray for them – or am I stuck?

                What does it mean to forgive mom
                    and dad, brothers, sisters –
                    whoever hurt me?

                Jesus: You must admit these ruptures
                    in your heart when you
                    were being taught what
                    love is –
                    you need to seek healing.

                Do you read the scriptures,
                    I first took away their
                    sins!

                Are you ready to trust and rebuild
                    relationships or are you like
                    a man in a cover-up –
                    metal and ready to go into
                    battle –
                    protecting yourself

                R. How do I feel about my family
                    hurt. How do I grow in
                    relationships today?

  DYSFUNCTION

     NO TRUST
     NO TALK
     NO LOVE
     NO FEELINGS		 GOD WANTS

TRUSTING
COMMUNICATION
LOVING
HEARTFELT

                THE DEVIL WANTS CLOSED IN –

                GOD WANTS HEARTS OPEN IN LOVE.
 

                Jesus: You can carry so much grief and
                    darkness, if you decide to
                    close down and not grow!

                You need to change –

                Every day you change –

                You need to grow in love –

                Not be enslaved in old patterned
                    behavior from past hurts –

                Open your heart and
                TRUST –
                BE REAL – don't live an
                    illusion –
                    You will suffer, but your
                    hearts will know joy
                    in Me

                Put aside the thoughts you had
                    about people making up to
                    you in adult-hood what
                    you lost –

                    Ask for forgiveness of those
                        you have hurt in your
                        melancholy ways and
                        pray for healing for all you
                        have injured –

                Live to Love –

                The only Dream is the Dream
                    of God the Father for
                    Man –

                Salvation History!

                Are you addicted to bad moods,
                            addicted to chaos
                            addicted to uncertainty
                            addicted to crises

                    from a dysfunctional home.

                Were relationships uncertain,
                    unpredictable, not able
                    to be trusted –

                Did you have dreams that were
                    not rooted in reality?

                    Can you forgive and move
                    out of your disappointments
                    so you can move ahead and grow
                    and bear witness – being a witness
                    of hope and love rooted in Me?

                Are you trying to control everything
                    to hide your powerlessness
                    over your past failed
                    relationships –
                    so you won't get hurt again?

                Living life in an armor shell –
                    backward!

                Life is for living according
                    to the Father's Plan –

                Let - go and love!

                Life is a journey – move out of
                    a stagnant bucket and
                    get to a crystal lake with
                    the light of the sun reflecting
                    on the beautiful waters –

                Recover from your shattered dreams
                    and losses in past relationships –

                Move out and live!

                You are unique!

                You were created for a purpose by God.
                You are in the state of becoming
                    more and more like Me –

                Move out of the stagnant bucket
                    and move to the crystal lake!

 

 

                R. Faith, Hope and Love
 

Excerpt from The Spirituality of Fatima

by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

Before receiving the six apparitions of Our Lady, May through October of 1917, the three Fatima visionaries were visited by an angel on three different occasions during the preceding year. He appeared to them in the spring, summer, and fall. Lucia (now Sr. Lucia) describes the springtime apparition of the angel:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You."

Then, rising he said: "Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications."

His words engraved themselves so deeply on our minds that we could never forget them (3)

During the summer of 1916, the angel again appeared to the three visionaries. He said to them:

Pray! Pray a great deal. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices continually to the Most High. Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it as an act of reparation for the sins by which God is offended, and as a petition for the conversion of sinners. Bring peace to our country in this way.... I am the Guardian Angel of Portugal Accept and bear with submission all the sufferings the Lord will send you. (4)

In the fall of the same year, the angel visited the visionaries a final time:

The angel came...bearing a golden chalice in one hand and a Host above it in the other. The amazed children noticed that drops of blood were falling from the Host into the chalice. Presently, the angel left both suspended in mid-air and prostrated himself on the ground, saying this beautiful prayer: "Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and [the intercession of] the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners." (5)

Sr. Lucia relates how the angel gave them Communion:

Then, rising, he took the chalice and the Host in his hand. He gave the Sacred Host to me and shared the Blood from the chalice between Jacinta and Francisco, saying as he did so:

"Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men! Make reparation for their crimes and console your God." (6)

Reflecting upon these messages of the angel, we see how much they contain for our spiritual instruction.

NOTES:

3. Louis Kondar, SVD, editor, Fatima in Lucia's Own Words (Fatima: Postulation Center, 1976), p.62. Distributed in the U.S.A. by the Ravengate Press, Cambridge, MA.
4. Our Lady's Peace Plan, op cit., pp.1-2.
5. Ibid., p.2 (The words in brackets are my own-added for clarification).
6. Fatima in Lucia's Own Words, op cit., pp.64-65.

 

                R. We are creatures

                God is the Creator –

                We are dependent on God –

                We are to live in the arms of God!

                Life is a mystery!

                Jesus is the way, the truth and
                    the life.

                We can see this struggling winter
                    and know spring is coming.

                We can embrace a dark night
                    and know the miracle
                    of the sun.

                We see the life in a blade of
                    grass.

                We see how bugs can
                    survive –

                We see life under the ocean –

 

                R. Our vision is veiled –

                We seek insight into the Divine Mystery –

                Our quest is for happiness!

                Happiness is in God.

                Sin is a disorder to God's Plan.
 

Romans 8: 5-9

Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on the things human nature desires; those who live in the Spirit have their minds on spiritual things. And human nature has nothing to look forward to but death, while the Spirit looks forward to life and peace, because the outlook of disordered human nature is opposed to God, since it does not submit to God's Law, and indeed it cannot, and those who live by their natural inclinations can never be pleasing to God. You, however, live not by your natural inclinations, but by the Spirit, since the Spirit of God has made a home in you. Indeed, anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

 

                R. God is beautiful –

                God is all good –

 

Excerpt from Response to God's Love by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

    ... In reference to Christianity, God himself is the ultimate mystery. Radically, God is completely other and transcendent, hidden from man in his inner life, unless he chooses to reveal himself. Let us briefly look at this inner life of God.

    The Father, in a perfect act of self-expression, in a perfect act of knowing, generates his son. The Son, the Word, is, then, the immanent expression of God's fullness, the reflection of the Father. Likewise, from all eternity, the Father and the Son bring forth the Holy Spirit in a perfect act of loving.

    At the destined moment in human history, God's self-expression, the Word, immersed himself into man's world. God's inner self-expression now had also become God's outer self-expression. Consequently, the mystery of God becomes the mystery of Christ. In Christ, God tells us about himself, about his inner life, about his plan of creation and redemption. He tells us how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit desire to dwell within us in the most intimate fashion, how they wish to share with us their own life through grace. All this he has accomplished and does accomplish through Christ.

 

                R. God first loved us!

                Christ came our Savior!

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Leviticus 19: 1-2, 17-18

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: 
‘Speak to the whole community of Israelites and say: 
    "Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.

You will not harbour hatred for your brother. You will reprove your fellow–countryman firmly and thus avoid burdening yourself with a sin. You will not exact vengeance on, or bear any sort of grudge against, the members of your race, but will love your neighbour as yourself. I am Yahweh.

 

1 Corinthians 3: 16-23

    Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy; and you are that temple.

There is no room for self-delusion. Any one of you who thinks he is wise by worldly standards must learn to be a fool in order to be really wise. For the wisdom of the world is folly to God. As scripture says: He traps the crafty in the snare of their own cunning and again: The Lord knows the plans of the wise and how insipid they are. So there is to be no boasting about human beings: everything belongs to you, whether it is Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, the world, life or death, the present or the future — all belong to you; but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

   

Matthew 5: 38-48

    ‘You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.

    ‘You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
 

 

 
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 20, 2011

INTRODUCTION – (Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48) Our first reading is from Leviticus, the third book of the Bible. It has many laws about Old Testament priesthood and Temple sacrifices, but its central message is a call to holiness for all God’s people. If you look up this portion of the book of Leviticus you will see that this call to holiness includes the Ten Commandments as well as a number of other commandments – all of which are summed up in the commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus expands on this command in today’s gospel, a continuation of his Sermon on the Mount.

HOMILY – Late one night, a truck driver pulled into a roadside café for a little something to eat. As he was eating, three nasty-looking motorcyclists noisily strutted in and made their way to the bar. For some unknown reason they gravitated toward the truck driver. One poured a little salt on his head, another knocked his pie on the floor and the third managed to knock the trucker’s coffee off the counter and into the man’s lap. The truck driver got up, said nothing, paid his bill and made his exit. “That dude sure wasn’t much of a fighter” sneered one of the cyclists. The waiter peered out the window onto the dark parking lot and answered, “He’s not much of a driver either. He just ran over three motorcycles.” (Sunday Homily Helps, St. Anthony Messenger Press, for February 20, 2011) .

It gives joy to our hearts to see nasty people get paid back for their nastiness. Jesus gives us a different way to look at things in today’s gospel. In last week’s portion of the Sermon on the Mount, we heard Jesus list several of the commandments with the phrase, “you have heard that it was said ...” and then give us his interpretation of how we were to observe them with the words, “but I say to you ...” Today’s gospel continues this pattern with two other commandments: the first is the law of talion, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” The second is the law about love of neighbor.

Let’s look briefly at each of these two commandments in today’s gospel. The law of talion regards proportionate recompense. It is a very ancient principle shared by all civilized people. It is a principle on which we supposedly base our own legal system in that if someone harms you, any restitution must be proportionate to the harm done. When Jesus tells us not to resist one who is evil, he is not addressing those who have responsibility to keep order in society such as law enforcement officers and judges. Their job is to vindicate the rights of the injured. Without someone to keep order in society, there would only be chaos. Jesus is addressing the injured person himself or herself. He is not expressing it as a hard and fast rule that we have to allow ourselves to let other people walk all over us. Remember when Jesus was arrested and put on trial. When someone struck him on the cheek, he didn’t turn the other cheek. He didn’t retaliate either. He responded, “why did you strike me?” We are entitled to stand up for ourselves, but Jesus wants us to let love guide us rather than vengeance. If in society we always exact retribution every time we are injured or offended, we would all be going around blind and toothless as the Rev. Martin Luther King said. If all of us had to get even for every hurt in life, we would all end up hating one another. Sometimes we have to swallow our pride and move on.

Regarding the second commandment, we’ve all heard sermons about loving our neighbor as ourselves. This may be part of the greatest commandment but it’s also one of the most difficult. There is one thing Jesus said in his comments about this command that I think is extremely practical and useful: Jesus said, “pray for those who persecute you.” Some years ago someone hurt our family very badly. Whenever I thought about that person, I could feel my blood pressure go up and anger raging inside of me. One day when I was feeling very angry, these words of Jesus came to me and once they did, whenever I thought of that person, I said a little prayer for the individual. It got rid of all my anger and bitterness. I must confess that doesn’t make me perfect. If that person showed up at the rectory wanting to borrow a few hundred dollars, I don’t know if I would give it to them (if I had it) – I’m not that far along the road to holiness, but at least my heart is free of anger. There is a lot of benefit in forgiving. Now, when someone tells me that someone is driving them crazy or they are having difficulty forgiving, I say to them, “Jesus says pray for those who persecute you.” It will bring you a lot of peace and might even surprise you by helping the other person show more kindness. Amen.

 

 

In this weather we need to
    pray for all those suffering
    from the weather.

We need to make reparation for all
    the sins against God's will
    Mary and Jesus have said.

Here is a tremendous offer Jesus
    told us to make.

The Lady of Lourdes Statue
    with Glass.

This statue is very beautiful –
    It is hand painted and
    handmade
With the image glass from
    Mary's image head.

Great grace is promised to those who
    pray the Shepherds of Christ Prayers

    . as a Prayer Group
    . as a Family

Novena al Espiritu Santo  English

Novena al Espiritu Santo  Español

Novena al Espiritu Santo  Français

Novena al Espiritu Santo  Português

Novena al Espiritu Santo  Italiano

Novena al Espiritu Santo  Polska

 

  Special Lady of Lourdes
Offer

Celebrate Mary's
Immaculate Conception
with a gift for Valentine's Day
for yourself or someone you love.

In honor of Our Lady of Lourdes

Postage Free in US
or come to our Centers!
12" Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes
with glass from Mary's image face plus
the DVD of the Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
and Blue Book 8


All for $78.00
while supply lasts!

Call Regina 1-727-776-2763
Call Rosie 888-211-3041

 

Special Sale Statues with image glass

     

12" Sacred Heart of Jesus
Originally $200 - on Sale for $100

15" Pilgrim Virgin Fatima
Originally $200 - on Sale for $85

12" Our Lady of Fatima
Originally $160 - on Sale for $75

11" Our Lady of Fatima
Originally $150 - on Sale for $50

 plus shipping
while supplies last

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Call Rosie 888-211-3041

 

 

 

Blue Book 11 - $5.00 plus postage
Call Rosie 1-888-211-3041
Give a gift that counts.

 

March 22, 2012

Jesus: My dear people,

    Today March 22, 2012, I want you to make available the statues: Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Guadalupe with the glass, so people will honor Mary and pray the prayers as I have requested before the statue praying for the priests, the Church and the world.

    Pray the prayers before the statues with glass for healings and blessings for your family, for your country, for the Church and the world. I promise special graces to those praying these prayers, and graces drawing them closer to My Heart and My Mother's heart. I want all to know My Mother's love as their mother. Put the statues with the glass in your homes and Churches, your schools and places of businesses and pray these prayers given to Fr. Carter, S.J., founder of Shepherds of Christ, in the prayer manual for the priests, the Church and the world. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock.

 

 

March 1, 2004
   

 

March 1, 2004
 

 

 
Fatima/Clearwater Glass Statues

 

                Jesus told me to put the glass from Mary's
                    image face in the statue.

                I gave a statue to a woman and she
                    did not have to have surgery after 3
                    doctors told her she needed her kidney
                    out because of cancer.

                Jesus said we should pray the Shepherds of Christ
                    prayers before the statue
                    and have the statues in the homes,
                    Churches, etc.

                Others have come running to me after
                    they prayed the prayers (Shepherds of
                    Christ Prayer Manual) before
                    the statue and said
                    crying

                    "Oh Rita, since you gave me the statue
                        with the glass and I prayed the
                        prayers —
                        my son has returned to Church —"

                    Another woman said, "My husband
                        who was in need of prayer is
                        building a grotto for the statue,
                        and he has changed."

                Give these statues for Christmas
                    We will have 10" statues before Christmas.
                    We will have 12" statues before Christmas.
                    We have 18" statues now — home
                        made, hand painted and the
                        crown is handmade —

                It is beautiful and
                    it has the glass from the image
                    in the cloud.

                We have beautiful 27" statues               

                Call Regina
 
                    1-727-776-2763

                Call Rosie now

                    1-888-211-3041

 

Yes — All the ends of the earth have seen
the power of God.

 

     God has called us to be united as a family in
the Shepherds of Christ.

     This is a vocation — to pray deeply for
the priests, the Church and the world and
to help support the Newsletter and the
Ministries.

     Remember the image of Our Lady
of Clearwater on the building. We have
very special Fatima statues so you can
have a special place of prayer in your
homes, praying the rosary for your family
and for the priests, the Church and the
world. If you are interested in these
very special Fatima/Clearwater statues
e-mail me with your phone number
and address  info@sofc.org.

     Those using the special statues
will be united to us in a special way —
We want you to pray the Shepherds of
Christ prayers for the priests, the Church
and the world from your special place
in your home.

     When people have set up a prayer corner/niche
with this statue, Fatima/Clearwater glass, they have
reported that their families have received special
blessings. With this statue it is important to pray
the prayers in the red prayer manual and consecrate
your home and family to the Sacred Heart and
Immaculate Heart.

Call Sheila or Doris about statues or go to China or
Clearwater. 

1-888-211-3041 or 1-812-273-8405

 

 

                April 21, 2012

                Message from Jesus!

                R. Jesus appeared in the most
                    beauteous light — radiant
                    faces — I cannot explain —

                Jesus speaks:

                    I wish the Sacred Heart Statues
                with the glass in all homes
                and My Mother's statue with
                glass. She is the Queen of Peace.

                    I am faithful to My Promises.

                    I promise to bring down great
                graces for all praying the
                prayers before the statue —
                Healing graces —
                graces in abundance for families —
                I want this devotion to the Sacred Heart
                and Immaculate Heart in homes.

                May is the month of Mary
                June the month of the Sacred Heart —

 


The rainbow lasted for over an hour during the prayers.

 

The rainbow lasted for over an hour during the prayers.

   

        
   

 

     

 

Healings

from

The Building of the Two Hearts
   

1. A gentleman from Florida called and said since he got the Fatima Statue with glass his life has been transformed. 3/3/2009

2. After using the Jesus water, pain and non-movement (for 3 years) in my fingers was healed instantly. Now fingers are cracking and working and no pain. Has taken x-rays. 10-19-2008

3. Ruptured ACL Ligament and PCL ligament left leg (knee) and damaged meniscus. 3-4 weeks excruciating pain. MRI showed damaged ligaments - went to do surgery and scopes revealed no damage other than meniscus injury. Day before surgery we came here to pray for healing. Wife anointed knee with Jesus water. Were told prior to surgery that would be out of work 3-6 months and surgery would be 4 hours. Surgery was only 40 minutes and recovery time is 1-2 weeks.  8/13/2008

4. My best friend (a couple) was granted a son, which now is my godson. They've been married for a long time but never had a child until they both came to see the Virgin Mary's image.  8/4/2007

5. I just wanted to tell you we have had so many prayers answered most especially since we have had the image statue in our home a few months ago. Prayers being miraculously answered for our children & grandchildren, our daughter's heart has literally almost healed ... she is also pregnant and that is also a miracle that she carried the baby this far, she is so thankful and also her cardiologist can't figure out how she is doing so well, and even agreed with her it must be prayers being said for her. He also told her in her 4th month to abort the baby, maybe he will have a conversion, we hope. Others in my family have changed since we got the statue. They are more understanding and patient and love being a Catholic more than ever before ...We thank Jesus, Mary, Rita and you all. Praise all of heaven. We are also so eager to have many more prayers answered. We are giving our married children a 10 inch statue each for their homes and red prayer manual if they would also like to say the prayers if they so choose to. The statue we know will help them with many graces as they pray before it as it has helped us in our home and lives. Love you all.  8/3/2007

6. Pregnancy. (A long note about how a woman got pregnant after she came to the Virgin Mary Building.) 3/21/2008

7. My mother was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April 2005. She received the Jesus water of Clearwater that my brother brought to El Salvador. She was treated at Instituto Salvadoreno del Segino Social. She was expected to live 3-6 months. She lived well for 2 years. Now she rests in peace with Lord Jesus and Virgin Mary. She died of Pneumonia March 21, 2007.  4/27/2007

8. The CAT scan showed a dark spot and they thought they would have to remove my right kidney. My family went to the Blessed Mother and asked for prayers and help. They also got the healing water. Well all our prayers were answered. There was no cancer or tumor. Thanks for all your prayers and help, and thanks to the Lord above.  4/18/2007

9. Knees were injured from motorcycle accident July/August 2006. His mom got the water in Florida right after the accident and took it to him and he used it every day and now his knees are completely healed. He knows Jesus water did it. 1/9/2007

10. Suspected blood clot. Pain in leg with swelling. Jesus water was used and pain went away and swelling. 12/31/2006

11. Barretrs – My husband brought Jesus water to hospital and put on my stomach. Biopsy came back fine.  12/27/06

12. A man from South Carolina came to thank Jesus and Mary for his healing. His brother sent him Jesus' water when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Three doctors told him there was nothing they could do for him. He started using Jesus' water and started feeling better (He could hardly walk, he was using a wheelchair a lot). He went back to the doctor and tests showed no more cancer — gone! The doctor told him he never saw this happen before. He is around 70 years old and walks and feels normal.   2006

13. A lady from Egypt wrote asking St. Mary for a baby for 3 years. She helped me and now I have a little daughter. Her name is Mariam after St. Mary name by my language. Thank God and Thank St. Mary. She always remembers me. - Egypt  10/25/2006

14. This woman filled out a healing form at the site. I am so blessed by the Blessed Mother that she has been there for me on more than several occasions. She performed a miracle on all occasions, one in particular was cancer of the right leg. The doctors wanted to cut my leg off the cancer was in the bone. When I returned to New York and went to a plastic surgeon he saw the cat scan and said my chances weren't good. When he did the surgery the cancer was not in the bone. It was superficial.  9/2/2006

15. Stroke. Healed August 2006. 9/2/2006

16. A year ago he went to Orlando for a test on his prostate. It was positive. He came here in May and got some Jesus water out of the trough. He went back to the doctor and he was healed. - Venezuela  8/25/2006

17. Infertility. Conceived and gave birth exactly 9 months after our first visit to Clearwater in August 2000. Our son was born exactly 9 months after our visit (May 20, 2001). I've had surgeries on both ovaries in 1998 and had very little chance of conceiving. Mother Mary gave us our blessing and wish. 7/21/2006

18. Peter was operated on for cancer he had for 10 years on his leg and because the wound was so big, they had to take some skin from another part of his leg to be able to fix it but it did split. So Monday the doctor said that another surgery was needed but thanks to Jesus water on Wednesday on that same week he was healed. - Argentina   7/2/2006

19. Cancer of the lungs. A friend of ours who we visit from Canada. He told us of his illness and we came and prayed at the Virgin Mary's appearance on March 28, 2006. He had Jesus' water put on him the night before his surgery. His surgery was on March 31 and the cancer was gone. Thank you for your blessings.  4/2/2006

20. Lower back muscle strain. After straining my back I used the Jesus water before using pain crème. After putting on the water I no longer needed the crème. The strain was gone.  3/16/2006

21. Neuropathy. He had gotten Jesus water a few days ago and went to the doctor yesterday.  3/15/2006

22. Pregnancy. I could not become pregnant. I came here to ask Mary to extend her hands on me, to be able to have a child. The miracle happened. I did not know that other women had become pregnant by asking Mary. My son is 3 years old. I am convinced that he is called to be special in his life, he has a mission. When she went to see the doctor, specialists, they said forget it, she couldn't have a baby, and she went to many different ones. Came here to pray and became pregnant. All the doctors never understood what had happened. They said he is a miracle child. 3/8/2006

23. Pregnancy. Became pregnant of twin girls after we prayed in 2005 and even have a statue of the Virgin Mary in our yard. After 15 years of concubinage Virgin Mary finally blessed us. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Jesus water was used to help conceive. 2/2/2006

24. A woman came in today from New York and said she was here last March (2005) and got the Jesus water. Her cousin who was very healthy and had just retired at age 60 suffered a massive stroke. He was taken to the best neurological hospital in New York and the doctors said he had no chance of recovery. He had a blood clot at the base of his brain stem. He was in intensive care and the woman with the other family members were visiting him and she put Jesus water on him and they prayed over him, while he was laying in bed in a fetal position unable to talk was paralyzed. After she had left (only 30 minutes of visitation in Intensive Care) the woman received a call from her cousin's wife saying the man had sat up in bed after they left and was miraculously healed. He is back at home now. The doctors came in and said this was a miracle. This was 2 months ago.  1/24/2006

25. Dermatomyositis (a form of Muscular Dystrophy). I was given 6 months to live. I was really depressed ready to give up when, while being in town for my girlfriends niece's Christmas Party. I heard it on the news. (December 17, 1996) Decided why not let's go, when I got here I was not expecting to see what I saw. I couldn't believe what I saw. Within an hour I put the cane down, slowly but surely got better enough where I wasn't paralyzed or dead. Thank you Jesus and Mary.  12/16/2005

26. Small Bowel Syndrome. Infant acquired surgical intervention at birth. 4 months care at home. Healed completely as of May 2005.    11/24/2005

27. Newborn very sick - 2 lbs. My mother came to visit me. We used to live in the post apartments by Target. I brought my Mother to the Virgin Mary Building in Clearwater and she prayed for my niece, who was in Guatemala. When my Mother returned to Guatemala she took the picture of Virgin Mary and put it in my niece's room. When my niece was born, she needed a tube feeding. She couldn't eat on her own. She was very thin and very sick. Many people told my sister and my mother (including the doctors) that my niece was so sick that she probably would died. Thank to our Lady Virgin Mary, my niece is a healthy gifted 9 year old girl. - Guatemala - Healing was at 6 months old. 11-22-2005

28. My daughter was told she had thyroid cancer, after having one side of the thyroid removed they found the cancer was gone. This had to be due to Mary and Jesus Water and her belief in the Mother and Son.  9/17/2005

29. Virus. He was in Egypt. His relatives came to the site and asked for prayers for healing for him. That same day they were here he was completely healed of his Liver virus. He is a physician.  8/31/2005

30. After waiting about 8 months for the baby to get bigger for the surgery, the doctor checked him and couldn't believe it, but she said, "It just fixed itself." He was 4 months premature and this surgery would have lowered his sperm count significantly and its already been lowered by a double inguinal hernia surgery. 6-14-2005  

31. Burst tube with unexpected pregnancy. Was internal bleeding. Doctor told was miracle, surviving from this kind of operation. She (the mother) had come to the site and prayed to God if this Image (Our Lady of Clearwater) was from God to grant her a miracle. Her daughter who was in Lithuania at the time was in the hospital and the above miracle happened during the 2 hours the mother was praying at the site.  5/4/2005

32. Heart failure. He was not breathing. Jesus water was poured on him while praying. He started breathing again. 4/23/2005

33. When I was pregnant, my baby was sick. My baby born was well. Thanks.  4/18/2005

34. Flu. Both sitting in car, praying rosary both sick of flu. He very sick, not getting better. Both used the water, felt pain leave body, didn't say anything, but after few minutes he said "I feel pain is gone." They drove back to tell us that they were healed. 4/18/2005

35. Asthma. Put Jesus water on neck. Breathing much better. 4/17/2005

36. Severe back pain. Have a bad back from laying brick for years and sometimes I bend over and the pain is severe and it takes at least 3 or 4 or more weeks for it to go away. I put Jesus water on it and it went away in 2 days. Alleluia.  4/16/2005

37. I must admit that some days I forget to wash in the water. But I have felt the same feeling once again a few days ago as I did on March 2nd, the first time I applied it to my knees. On the movie that you took, I am walking on the beach without a cane. I don't know if you noticed. I didn't use the cane yesterday, and I have no pain. I'm still slow at climbing the stairs, but I'm seeing a tremendous improvement. I'll keep a journal, and continue updating you I pray a lot, as I'm applying the medicine. Part of my prayer is "If it be your will." Thank you. I'll be in touch soon. 3/11/2005

38. My husband had a good friend and he was diagnosed with cancer and given less than a few weeks to live. Jesus told me to take him the Jesus water. I never really met him, but I went to the hospital. He was so sick. He bounced up and said I knew it - I will be healed. And he lived over two years longer.  2005

39. Leukemia went into remission February 7, 2003. Her doctor can't believe how well she is doing. She has the worse kind of Leukemia there is and she is doing extremely well. He said this does not happen, so soon, we told him its because of all the prayers, everyone is saying for her. The day after we visited the Blessed Mother Building, her blood count was excellent. Thank you so much. As of 11/3/2004 she is still in remission and doing very well, a happy 10 year old little girl. We are all so thankful for all the prayers from everyone, we truly believe, if we hadn't had our faith and by going to the Virgin Mary building so often, we wouldn't have been so fortunate to have her. Prayer is still the most powerful and healing process. Thank you so much.  11/3/2004

40. Spinal Manangitas. December 16th, 2002 we almost lost our little grandson. He was taken flight for life to Madison where they worked on him for hours. They told us he would either be blind - deaf - brain damage, or he might not walk. Today he is a happy - healthy little boy full of life. Thanks to everyone's prayers to our Blessed Virgin and our heavenly Father, without them we would not have him. Thank you. As of this date November 3, 2004 our little grandson is doing very well, a healthy happy little boy, and so full of life, and without any complications. Our prayers and by going to the Virgin Mary building truly helped this little boy. Thanks to everyone for all their prayers. 11/3/2004

41. After my family visited the Virgin Mary and returned to hospital, I showed no sign of having a stroke. Doctors at hospital said I would not recover.  4/2001

42. A couple today told of a friend who has a priest friend who was unable to move his legs (possibly a stroke) and they put Jesus water on him and he is now walking and has gone back to the Philippines. I gave them a healing form to give to their friend. They said he uses the water every day on his legs. 11/2008
 

   

                    All 5ths - Our Lady of Clearwater Florida


July 5, 2000


September 5, 2000


October 5, 2000


November 5, 2000


December 5, 2000


January 5, 2001


February 5, 2001


March 5, 2001


April 5, 2001


May 5, 2001


June 5, 2001


July 5, 2001


August 5, 2001


September 5, 2001


October 5, 2001


November 5, 2001


December 5, 2001


January 5, 2002


February 5, 2002


March 5, 2002


April 5, 2002


May 5, 2002


June 5, 2002


July 5, 2002


September 5, 2002


October 5, 2002


November 5, 2002


January 5, 2003


February 5, 2003


March 5, 2003


April 5, 2003


May 5, 2003


July 5, 2003


August 5, 2003


September 5, 2003


October 5, 2003 


November 5, 2003


December 5, 2003


January 5, 2004


                         February 5, 2004


March 5, 2004

   
 

 

In Spanish with the Imprimatur

Also we are ready to print
5000 copies of the
Parents and Children's Rosary Book
in SPANISH.
Can you help with a donation?

  

Give the gift that counts.

                Give to your priests Fr. Carter's Books plus postage.

Tell My People                     $5.00
Response to God's Love    $8.00
Response in Christ              $8.00

   

  

    God's Blue Books 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 7, 8, 9, 10
        $4.00 each plus postage


Blue Book 4


Blue Book 5


Blue Book 6A


Blue Book 6B


Blue Book 6C


Blue Book 7


Blue Book 8


Blue Book 9


Blue Book 10

 

 

Old Mass Books with the Imprimatur 
$2.00 plus postage

New Mass Book with Imprimatur   
$8.00 plus postage

New Parents & Children's Book with the Imprimatur
$8.00 plus postage

Fr. Joe's Cycle A - Steadfast to the Sun - Starts in Advent
$5.00 plus postage

Give the gift that keeps on giving!

Give to your priest.


Fr. Carter's Priestly Newsletters Book II
$6.00 plus postage

     

Special sale statue with glass

27" Statue of Our Lady of Fatima
$175 plus postage

 

Get a canvas print of Mary's image
with a sliver of glass and a little
bottle of Jesus and Mary water.
The glass will be fixed behind the
back of the picture.
$200.00 plus postage

 

Dan called and gave the report to me, when I hung up I saw this rainbow and took a picture for him.

 

Rita Ring

Books written by the cofounder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries

Mass Book
A Journey Into the Heart of Jesus - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 12.00 plus postage

  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
  are to help people to be more deeply united to God in the Mass. This book is available in English and Spanish with the Church’s Imprimatur.
  $12

Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 10.00  plus postage
 

  Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, by Rita Ring, Short Meditations for both parents and children to be used when praying the
  rosary. These meditations will help all to know the lives of Jesus and Mary alive in their Hearts. Available in both English and Spanish with
  the Church’s Imprimatur. $10

God's Blue Book I
Teachings to Lift You Up. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00  plus postage

God's Blue Book 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

God's Blue Book II
The Fire of His Love. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.
$ 10.00  plus postage

God's Blue Book 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

God's Blue Book III
Love God, Love One Another. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00  plus postage

God's Blue Book 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

God's Blue Book 4
The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring
$ 5.00  plus postage

God's Blue Book 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

God's Blue Book 5
So Deep Is the Love of His Heart. Author: Rita Ring.
$ 5.00  plus postage

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

God's Blue Book 6A
He Calls Us to Action Author: Rita Ring.
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

God's Blue Book 6B
He Calls Us to Action Author: Rita Ring.
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I
Red Rosary Book - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

Blue Rosary Book
Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II
$ 12.00  plus postage

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

Short Rosary Meditations for the Ederly, Ill, and Homebound
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
This book is 8 1/2" by 11" and you can open it up and sit it on your lap.
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

  Messages From Jesus
  Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
  This book is 8 1/2" by 11" and you can open it up and sit it on your lap.

  $ 10.00  plus postage

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

Daily Messages From Heaven 1
From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00  plus postage

Daily Messages From Heaven Volumes 2 thru 5 (Spiral bound)
From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$25.00 each plus postage

Daily Messages from Heaven. First book of Daily Messages. $10

Rosary Meditations for Little People and Elderly
Short Meditations for the Rosary
$ 3.00  plus postage

Color the Lives of Jesus and Mary, Books 1 thru 5
A Coloring Book with Short Meditations on the 15 mysteries of the rosary. Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 5.00 each plus postage

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.

  Coloring the Lives of Jesus and Mary Books 6 and 7
  Mysteries of Light
  $ 5.00 each plus postage

  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.

 

  God's Blue Book I on CD, Disk #1
  God's Blue Book I, Disk #1 Read by author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
  $ 10.00 plus postage

 

  Mysteries of Light Rosary Book
  Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I
  $ 5.00  plus postage 

 

  Mysteries of Light Rosary Book
  Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II
  $ 5.00  plus postage 

 

  Apostle's Manual
  Shepherds of Christ Overview: Very carefully discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.
  $ 20.00  

 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

 Songs From Jesus
  Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
  $ 3.00  

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

 
   

Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena
  Holy Spirit Novena by: Rita Ring
  $ 1.00  plus postage

 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

 

  Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena CD
  Holy Spirit Novena Read by: Rita Ring
  $ 10.00  plus postage


   Holy Spirit Novena CD. Prayers and scripture readings from the Holy Spirit Novena Booklet read by Rita Ring. $10

  Colorea 1 thru 5
   las vidas de Jesús y María (recibido el Imprimátur)
  $ 5.00 each plus postage 

 

  Para Comprender Mejor La Santa Misa
  Una Jornada Hacia el Corazón de Jesús
  $ 10.00  

 

  Meditaciones del Rosario
  para Pequenos y Ancianos
  $ 10.00  

 
 

Fr. Joe Robinson

Inspiring Homilist & Author


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

Guiding Light - Reflect on the Word
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle B of the Liturgical Year
$ 15.00 plus postage

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

Guiding Light - Steadfast to the Son
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle A of the Liturgical Year
$ 15.00 plus postage

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

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

Guiding Light - Feed My Soul
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle C of the Liturgical Year
$ 15.00 plus postage

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

Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle B of the Liturgical Year
$ 15.00 plus postage

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

Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts
Inspiring Homilies covering partial year of Cycle A by Fr. Joe Robinson
$ 10.00 plus postage

Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts. - Cycle A (partial) — Homilies by the Reverend Joe Robinson given at St. Boniface Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a tremendous honor Fr. Joe has allowed us to share these great gifts with you – for greater holiness and knowing more and more about God. $10

Fr. Edward J. Carter

Books written by the founder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries

Response to God's Love
–.God Himself is the Ultimate Mystery
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 1
Selected Writings on Spirituality—for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 10.00  plus postage

Shepherds of Christ - 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

Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 2
Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 12.00  plus postage

Shepherds of Christ - Volume 2: by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains issues 13-29 of the newsletter (September/October 1996 - Issue 5, 1999) $15

Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 3
Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

Tell My People
Messages from Jesus and Mary Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest  
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

Spirituality Handbook
Shepherds of Christ Associates Spirituality Handbook - A Way of Spiritual Life
Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest
$ 3.00  plus postage

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

The Spirituality of Fatima
Fatima: The Setting, The Message, The Spirituality of Consecration
$ 5.00  plus postage

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

  Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual
  Shepherds of Christ Associates Prayers
  Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
  $ .50  plus postage

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.

 

 

Shepherds of Christ 6:20 Prayers CD
Holy Spirit Novena, Associates Prayer Manual and the Rosary Led by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00  plus postage
 

Priestly Newsletter 2000 Issue 1
Audio CD - Read by Father Edward J. Carter
$ 10.00  plus postage

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

Priestly Newsletter 2000 Issue 2
Audio CD - Read by Father Edward J. Carter
$ 10.00  plus postage

Priestly Newsletter - 2000 #2 - CD. - Suffering: A Source of Life - Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. read it the year he died. Fr. Carter knew suffering that year. His voice is so powerful as he read each Newsletter from his heart and soul. "Every man has his own share in the redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the redemption was accomplished. He is called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the redemption. Thus each man in his suffering can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ–." quote by Fr. Carter from the newsletter $10

Statues/Religious Items

Statues, Crucifixes, and Religious Artwork
These items are very special additions to your home or place of worship.

 

Special 27" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
27" Statue with crown
$ 450.00 plus shipping

Special 18" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass  
$ 250.00 plus shipping

Special 15" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
White gown with gold trim around mantel
$ 200.00 plus shipping

Special 12" Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
White gown with gold trim around mantel
$ 160.00 plus shipping

Special 18" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass  
Blue and Pink gown with a rosary over her hand.
$ 250.00 plus shipping

Special 11" Our Lady of Fatima/Clearwater Statue with Glass
Blue and Pink gown.
$ 150.00 plus shipping

Crucifix by Felix - Hand Carved
Crucifix with incredible detail!
$ 750.00 plus shipping

Imitation of Two Hearts
Giclee Art Print on Canvas
$ 150.00 plus shipping

Lucia's Vision
Giclee Art Print on Canvas by Harold Kellner
$ 150.00 plus shipping

 
  Mary's Image   12 x 16
  Giclee Art Print on Canvas of Mary's image with a sliver of glass and a little bottle of Jesus and Mary water. The glass will be fixed behind the back of the picture.
  $ 200.00 plus shipping

 

 

 
  Blue Crystal Rosary
  Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
  6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping
  8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping

 

  Red Crystal Rosary
  Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
  6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping
  8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping

 

 

  Clear Crystal Rosary
  Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
  6mm - $ 30.00 plus shipping
  8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping
 

 

 

  Mug
  Mug with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
  $ 15.00 plus shipping
 
 

 

 

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

 

Statues  

OL-Guadalupe
w/glass - 28

OL-Grace
w/glass - 24

OL-Mt. Carmel
w/glass - 24

OL-Lourdes
w/glass - 24
 

IH-Mary
w/glass - 24

IH-Ivory
w/glass - 24

SH-Jesus
w/glass - 24

SH-Blessing
w/glass - 24

Sorrow M
w/glass - 24

Inf.-Prague
w/glass - 24

OL-Lourdes
w/glass - 18

OL-Mt. Carmel
w/glass - 18

I Heart
w/glass - 18

I Heart - Ivory
w/glass - 18

OL-Grace
w/glass - 18

SH-Jesus
w/glass - 18

OL-Guadalupe
w/glass - 12

 

PV-Fatima
w/glass - 27

PV-Fatima
w/glass - 18

PV-Fatima
w/glass - 15

OL-Fatima
w/glass - 18

PV-Fatima
w/glass - 12

OL-Fatima
w/glass - 11

St. Padre Pio

St. Joseph

St. Therese

St. Francis

St. Anthony

St. Claire

Limpias

St. Jude
  

Divine Mercy

Holy Family

Angel

St. Philomena

Pieta - Marble

Pieta - Color

Holy Family 12

St. Anthony - 18

St. Francis - 18

St. Joseph - 18

St. Therese - 18

St. Rita - 18

St. Clare - 12
  

St. Rita - 12

St. Padre Pio - 12

Divine Mercy - 12

St. Michael - 11

Limpias - 8

       
           
           
           
           

 


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

 

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

Size

Price

Quantity   

 Holy Family

 24"

$180

  

 Limpias

 24"

$125

  

 St. Anthony

 24"

$125

  

 St. Claire

 24"

$125

  

 St. Francis

 24"

$125

  

 St. Joseph

 24"

$125

  

 St. Jude

 24"

$125

  

 St. Padre Pio

 24"

$125

  

 St. Therese

 24"

$125

  
 Divine Mercy 22"

$125

  
 Angel 22"

$100

  
 St. Philomena 20"

$100

  
 St. Philomena 16"

$65

  
 St. Joseph 18"

$65

  
 St. Francis 18"

$65

  
 St. Anthony 18"

$65

  
 St. Rita 18"

$65

  
 St. Therese 18"

$65

  
 Pieta - Color

15"

$125

  
 Pieta - Marble

15"

$125

  
 Holy Family 12"

$75

  
 St. Padre Pio - standing 12"

$100

  
 St. Padre Pio - sitting 9"

$100

  
 St. Michael 11"

$40

  
 St. Rita 12"

$40

  

 Divine Mercy

 12"

$50

  
 St. Claire 12"

$40

  
 Pieta - Color

8"

$75

  
 Pieta - Marble

8"

$75

  
 Limpias 8"

$25

  
 Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass 28"

$500

  
 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass 24"

$500

  

 Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass

 24"

$500

  

 Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass

 24"

$500

  

 Infant of Prague w/glass

 24"

$500

  

 Our Lady of Grace w/glass

 24"

$500

  

 Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass  

 24"

$500

  
 Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass

 24"

$500

  
 Sacred Heart -Blessing w/glass

 24"

$500

  

 Sorrowful Mother w/glass

 24"

$500

  
 Immaculate Heart of Mary w/glass 18"

$300

  
 Immaculate Heart - Ivory w/glass 18"

$300

  
 Sacred Heart of Jesus w/glass 18"

$300

  
 Our Lady of Lourdes w/glass   18"

$300

  
 Our Lady of Grace w/glass 18"

$300

  

 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel w/glass

18"

$300

  
 Our Lady of Guadalupe w/glass 12"

$200

  

 Fatima w/glass

11"

$150

  

 Fatima w/glass

 18"

$250

  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass

 12"

$160

  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass

15"

$200

  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass

18"

$250

  
 Pilgrim Virgin w/glass 27"

$450

  


Call for Shipping Price (1-888-211-3041)
 

  Name
    

 Sub-Total

  Address
         

 IN Tax (7%)

  City
  

 Shipping

  State                                            Zip
  

 Donation

  Telephone
    

 Order Total

  

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

 

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SofC LogoCopyright © 2012 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.
All scripture quotes are from the New Jerusalem Bible, July 1990, published by Doubleday.
Revised: January 1, 2012
URL: http://www.sofc.org
Contact Information for Shepherds of Christ
Email: info@SofC.org

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