Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
February 6, 2009
February 7th Holy
Spirit Novena |
The Novena Rosary
Mysteries |
Please help us with a donation
to print Fr. Carter's book
Response to God's Love
We need your help —
1-888-211-3041
From Today's Mass
Hebrews 13: 1-8
Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the body. Marriage must be honoured by all, and marriages must be kept undefiled, because the sexually immoral and adulterers will come under God's judgement. Put avarice out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I shall not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord on my side, I fear nothing: what can human beings do to me?
Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, take their faith as your model. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever.
Mark 6: 14-29
King Herod had heard about him, since by now his name was well known. Some were saying, 'John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.' Others said, 'He is Elijah,' others again, 'He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.' But when Herod heard this he said, 'It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.'
Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him, but she was not able to do so, because Herod was in awe of John, knowing him to be a good and upright man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl at once rushed back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, immediately, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. At once the king sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in the prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Given August 23, 2008
Religious Life
and life in the Shepherds of Christ Movement for Servants, Handmaids and
Apostles
Galatians 2: 19-20
...I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me.
Luke 1: 46-55
The Magnificat
And Mary said:
My soul proclaims
the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon
the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards
all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty
has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age
to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm,
he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes
from their thrones
and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things,
sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help
of Israel his servant,
mindful of his faithful love
—according to the promise
he made to our ancestors—
of his mercy to Abraham
and to his descendants for ever.
Galatians 2: 19-20
...I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me.
For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
For the Pope.
For all bishops of the world.
For all priests.
For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.
For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and for the spread of this movement to the world.
For all members of the Catholic Church.
For all members of the human family.
For all souls in purgatory.
Excerpt from Response in Christ
by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.e) Relationship with Members of the Church
There is but one true Church of Christ. Yet this one Church has three different states of existence. There is the pilgrim Church, the Church of this world, composed of members who have received the grace of Christ and strive for its development. They have not yet obtained the goal of their efforts, as have the members of the heavenly Church, who enjoy God in eternal happiness. The Church suffering is an intermediate state of existence necessary for those who had not achieved the required purification as members of the pilgrim Church. Although there are these three phases of the Church's existence, there is a profound union existing between all the members. All these members possess the same basic life of grace in Christ, and this common life establishes the most intimate bonds of love. In our preceding chapter, we discussed the pilgrim Church. Let us now consider the Church suffering and the heavenly Church.
The members of the Church suffering are those who have departed from this life in an incomplete state of Christian development. Their development is incomplete in the sense that grace has not fully taken possession of them, and, as a result, they are yet closed in upon themselves to a greater or lesser degree. They as yet cannot open themselves out in complete love to the Triune God in the beatific vision. They must undergo a further purification, a purification which could have been achieved upon earth with merit. Now the purification must be achieved with no merit attached. The pain of this purification is mixed with the certain expectation of achieving the vision of God. We can hasten the advent of this vision for this people by the offering of prayers and other good works. Scripture itself refers to our action on behalf of those in purgatory in Chapter 12 of the Second Book of Maccabees beginning with verse 38.
The members of the heavenly Church are those in whom the life of grace has taken full possession and has reached its completion in the life of glory. Faith now is unnecessary, as the light of glory gives the human intellect a new strength and capacity for seeing God face-to-face. While the Christian was a wayfarer, he received the imprint of the indwelling Trinity as he shared in God's own life. Now in heaven that grace-life and possession of God reaches its completion—the absolute completion is not achieved, however, until the resurrection of the body. The divine persons give Themselves to the beatified in a profound union far surpassing that of the indwelling of the Trinity experienced here below.
This life of heaven is still the Christ-life, for just as we possess a share in Trinitarian life here below as mediated by Christ, and exercise this grace-life as structured by Him, so also in heaven is the mediation of Christ present. In the words of Rahner, "One always sees the Father through Jesus. Just as immediately as this, for the directness of the vision of God is not a denial of the mediatorship of Christ as man."13 And not only does the humanity of Christ unite the blessed to God, but also, in some way, to the whole of creation. This is merely a completion of what is begun here below, namely, the union with Christ in His humanity establishing the Christian in a special relationship with God, with other men, and with the whole of creation. We have a glimpse, therefore, of the fullness of life which members of the heavenly Church possess.
The heavenly Church, as St. Thomas says, is the true Church.14 The Church of this earth and the Church of purgatory are, each in its own way, reaching out in loving hope for the heavenly Jerusalem. Vatican II puts it very simply: "The Church, to which we are called in Christ Jesus, and in which we acquire sanctity through the grace of God, will attain her full perfection only in the glory of heaven."15
The members of the heavenly Church can help us in living our life of grace until we too share its fullness with them. Their power of intercession on our behalf is but another ramification of the communal aspect of Christianity. We are meant to help others grow in Christ. We, in turn, are intended by God to receive aid from others—yes, from members of the heavenly Church, as well as from those with whom we dwell here below.
Not only can we be aided by the saints' intercession, but the example of the canonized saints can also be of great value to us. They have concretely proved that full holiness is possible. Such an inspiration is of real worth when we are tempted to think that Christian sanctity in its higher degrees is impossible of attainment. Moreover, the canonized saints, in their diversity, teach us that there are many authentic versions of Christian holiness. They can be innovators in showing us that there are numerous possibilities in assimilating the mystery of Christ, although the basic assimilation remains the same for all Christians of all times. In the opinion of Rahner this is one of the chief roles the canonized saints exert in the life of the Church.16_____
13Karl Rahner, Theological Investigations, Vol. III (Baltimore: Helicon, 1967), p. 44.
14Cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, In Ad Ephes., c. 3, Lect. 3.
15Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Church, No. 48.
16Cf. Karl Rahner, Op. cit., pp. 100-101.
A Prayer before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Let me be a holy sacrifice and unite with God in the sacrament of His greatest love.
I want to be one in Him in this act of love, where He gives Himself to me and I give myself as a sacrifice to Him. Let me be a holy sacrifice as I become one with Him in this my act of greatest love to Him.
Let me unite with Him more, that I may more deeply love Him. May I help make reparation to His adorable Heart and the heart of His Mother, Mary. With greatest love, I offer myself to You and pray that You will accept my sacrifice of greatest love. I give myself to You and unite in Your gift of Yourself to me. Come and possess my soul.
Cleanse me, strengthen me, heal me. Dear Holy Spirit act in the heart of Mary to make me more and more like Jesus.
Father, I offer this my sacrifice, myself united to Jesus in the Holy Spirit to You. Help me to love God more deeply in this act of my greatest love.
Give me the grace to grow in my knowledge, love and service of You and for this to be my greatest participation in the Mass. Give me the greatest graces to love You so deeply in this Mass, You who are so worthy of my love.
-God's Blue Book, December 27, 1995
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
From the Shepherds of Christ
Prayer Manual
10. Prayer for Priests. "Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, we pray that in the great love and mercy of Your Sacred Heart You attend to all the needs of Your priest-shepherds throughout the world. We ask that You draw back to Your Heart all those priests who have seriously strayed from Your path, that You rekindle the desire for holiness in the hearts of those priests who have become lukewarm, and that You continue to give Your fervent priests the desire for the highest holiness. United with Your Heart and Mary's Heart, we ask that You take this petition to Your heavenly Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen"
11. Prayer for all members of the Shepherds of Christ Associates. "Dear Jesus, we ask Your special blessings on all members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. Continue to enlighten them regarding the very special privilege and responsibility you have given them as members of Your movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates. Draw them ever closer to Your Heart and to Your Mother's Heart. Allow them to more and more realize the great and special love of Your Hearts for each of them as unique individuals. Give them the grace to respond to Your love and Mary's love with an increased love of their own. As they dwell in Your Heart and Mary's Heart, abundantly care for all their needs and those of their loved ones. We make our prayer through You to the Father, in the Holy Spirit, with Mary our Mother at our side. Amen"
12. Prayer for the spiritual and financial success of the priestly newsletter. "Father, we ask Your special blessings upon the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ. We ask that You open the priest-readers to the graces You wish to give them through this chosen instrument of Your Son. We also ask that You provide for the financial needs of the newsletter and the Shepherds of Christ Associates. We make our prayer through Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, with Mary at our side. Amen"
13. Prayer for all members of the human family. "Heavenly Father, we ask Your blessings on all Your children the world over. Attend to all their needs. We ask Your special assistance for all those marginalized people, all those who are so neglected and forgotten. United with our Mother Mary, we make this petition to You through Jesus and in the Holy Spirit."
14. Prayer to St. Michael and our Guardian Angels:
"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."
"Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen."
15. Pause for silent, personal prayer. This should last at least five minutes.
16. Act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
"Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock, I consecrate myself to Your most Sacred Heart. From Your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me, as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as a symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom You have chosen as Your companion in this most important work. Help me to always love You in return. Help me to give myself entirely to You. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor! Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!
"Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are also my Mother. You love me with a most special love as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, a movement created by your Son as a powerful instrument for the renewal of the Church and the world. In a return of love, I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock."
Fr. Joe's Homily Books
Guiding Light - $10.00 |
Guiding Light -
$10.00 |
Fr. Carter's Books
Priestly Newsletter Book I
12 Newsletters $12.00 |
17 Newsletters $12.00 |
Priestly Newsletter Book 3
4 Newsletters &
Prayers $12.00 |
|
Spirituality
Handbook |
Tell My People |
$10.00 |
|
Tell My People Spirituality Handbook
|
$10.00 |
$10.00 |
Call Kathleen
1-888-211-3041
812-273-8405
1-888-321-7671
God’s Blue Books
God’s Blue Book 1 – $10.00 |
God’s Blue Book 4
–
$5.00 |
God’s Blue Book 2 –
$10.00 |
God’s Blue
Book 5 –
$5.00 |
God’s Blue Book 3 –
|
God’s Blue
Book 6
–
$10.00 |
Rosary Books
Statues
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
|
Our Lady of Lourdes
|
Our Lady of Grace
|
|
|
|
Sorrowful Mother
|
Immaculate Heart - Ivory
|
Immaculate Heart of Mary
|
|
|
|
Limpias
|
Sacred Heart of Jesus -Blessing
|
Sacred Heart of Jesus
|
|
|
|
Infant of Prague
|
Divine Mercy
|
Holy Family
|
|
|
|
|
Our Lady of Guadalupe
|
Holy Family
|
|
|
|
St. Therese
|
St. Francis
|
St. Anthony
|
|
|
|
St. Claire |
St. Padre Pio |
St. Joseph |
Angel |
St.
Philomena |
St. Rita - 18 |
Immaculate Heart of Mary - 18 |
Immaculate Heart - Ivory - 18 |
Sacred Heart of
Jesus - 18 |
Our Lady of Lourdes - 18 |
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - 18 |
Our Lady of Grace - 18 |
St. Francis - 18 |
St. Anthony - 18 |
St. Joseph - 18 |
St. Therese - 18 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe - 12 |
St. Clare - 12 |
|
|
|
St. Padre Pio -
12
|
St. Rita - 12
|
Divine Mercy - 12
|
|
|
|
Pieta - Color |
Pieta - Marble |
Limpias - 8 |
Fatima w/glass - 11 |
Pilgrim Virgin
w/glass - 12 |
Pilgrim Virgin
w/glass - 15 |
|
|
|
Fatima w/glass - 18 |
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass - 18 |
Pilgrim Virgin
w/glass - 27 |
|
Toll free - 1-888-211-3041 |
Size | Price | Quantity | |
Holy Family |
24" |
$180 |
|
Immaculate Heart of Mary |
24" |
$125 |
|
Immaculate Heart - Ivory |
24" |
$125 |
|
Infant of Prague |
24" |
$125 |
|
Limpias |
24" |
$125 |
|
Our Lady of Grace |
24" |
$125 |
|
Our Lady of Guadalupe |
24" |
$125 |
|
Our Lady of Lourdes |
24" |
$125 |
|
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel |
24" |
$125 |
|
Sacred Heart of Jesus |
24" |
$125 |
|
Sacred Heart of Jesus -Blessing |
24" |
$125 |
|
Sorrowful Mother |
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 |
|
Angel |
22" |
$100 | |
Divine Mercy |
22" |
$100 | |
St. Philomena |
20" |
$100 | |
St. Philomena |
16" |
$65 | |
Immaculate Heart of Mary |
18" |
$65 | |
Immaculate Heart - Ivory |
18" |
$65 | |
Sacred Heart of Jesus |
18" |
$65 | |
Our Lady of Lourdes |
18" |
$65 | |
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel |
18" |
$65 | |
Our Lady of Grace |
18" |
$65 | |
St. Joseph |
18" |
$65 | |
St. Francis |
18" |
$65 | |
St. Anthony |
18" |
$65 | |
St. Rita |
18" |
$65 | |
St. Therese |
18" |
$65 | |
Pieta - Color | 15" | $75 | |
Pieta - Marble | 15" | $75 | |
Holy Family |
12" |
$60 | |
Our Lady of Guadalupe |
12" |
$40 | |
St. Padre Pio |
12" |
$40 | |
St. Rita |
12" |
$40 | |
Divine Mercy |
12" |
$40 | |
St. Claire |
12" |
$40 | |
Limpias |
8" |
$25 | |
Fatima w/glass |
11" |
$150 | |
Fatima w/glass |
18" |
$250 | |
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass |
12" |
$160 | |
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass | 15" | $200.00 | |
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass | 18" | $250.00 | |
Pilgrim Virgin w/glass |
27" |
$450.00 |
|
|
Name |
Sub-Total |
Address |
IN Tax (7%) |
City |
Shipping |
State
Zip |
Donation |
Telephone |
Order Total |
Available for $750.00
Fatima/Clearwater Glass Statues available.Call or go to China
1-888-211-3041
6015 N. State Rd 62
China, IN 47250
or call Clearwater
21649 US 19 N
Clearwater, FL 337651-888-321-7671
1-727-725-9312
Brand New Internet Store