Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the
wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he
loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your
son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that
hour the disciple took her into his home.
This is Our Lady and the Child Jesus
from China, Indiana
|
Fr. Carter's homily:
This certainly is one of my favorite scenes in all of
Scripture, and I'm sure it is relative to yourselves. Jesus, near the point of
death, so tenderly gives Mary to us as our spiritual Mother, John representing
all of us. We know in the natural order of things, according to natural
motherhood, no matter how many children a mother has, she has a very, very
special relationship with each of her children. So it is with Mary. Despite the
fact that she is Mother of the whole human race, and this is so hard for us to
grasp but it is so true—she has that most tender, special, unique love for
each of us. If you could imagine the most loving mother possible here upon earth
in the natural order of motherhood, the great love of that mother for her
children would fade into just a tiny, tiny measure of the love which Mary has
for each of us. In other words, she loves us much, much, much, much more than
the most loving mother in the natural order of motherhood loves her children.
And what a consoling thought this is. We always have to remember that God chose
Mary as the human person instrument through which to give us Jesus, and her
Fiat, in her saying yes at the scene of the Annunciation, she pledged that she
would cooperate with the Holy Spirit in bringing Jesus into this world. That
same pattern repeats itself in a different order now of course, but the pattern
repeats itself in the sense that God the Father still gives us Jesus through
Mary, as she cooperates with the divine action of the Holy Spirit. And so these
two: the Holy Spirit in using the cooperation of Mary, His spouse, are always
forming Jesus within us in a deeper fashion. What a great gift, of Mary to us as
our spiritual Mother. We can never thank our Lord enough for this.
This is Father Carter delivering
homily
|
St. Bernard, Doctor of the Church, which means he is not
only outstanding for his holiness but for his spiritual wisdom, gives us some
very, very tender and moving words concerning Mary in our life. He says,
"If you will not be submerged by tempests, do not turn away your eyes from
the splendor of this star. If the storms of temptation arise, if you crash
against the rocks of tribulation, look to the star [that star, of course, is
Mary], call upon Mary. If you are tossed about on the waves of pride, of
ambition, of slander, of hostility, look to the star, call upon Mary. If wrath
or avarice or the enticements of the flesh upset the boat of your mind, look to
Mary. If you are disturbed by the immensity of your crimes...If you begin to be
swallowed up by the abyss of depression and despair, think of Mary! In danger,
in anxieties, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her name not leave
your lips, nor your heart, and that you may receive the help of her prayer, do
not cease to follow the example of her conduct...If she holds you, you will not
fall, if she protects you, you need not fear."
1
Note:
1. St. Bernard, as in Hilda Graef, Mary: A History of Doctrine
and Devotion, Christian Classics, Vol. I, p. 237.
end of August 12, 2000 homily
August 1
4,
2000
Father Carter's Homily
Matthew 17: 22-27
Second prophecy of the Passion
When they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to them,
‘The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men; they
will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised up again.’
And a great sadness came over them.
The Temple tax paid by Jesus and Peter
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the
half–shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the
half–shekel?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied, and went into the house. But
before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From
whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from
foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners,’ Jesus said,
‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so that we shall not be the
downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish
that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and
give it to them for me and for yourself.’
Fr. Carter's homily:
‘The Son of man is going to be delivered
into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third
day he will be raised up again.’ (Matthew 17: 22-23)— words towards
the beginning of today's Gospel. Jesus paved the way in a very special way for
all His disciples but in also a unique way for those who were to be martyred,
and today we celebrate the memory of one of those martyrs, St. Maximilian
Kolbe. So for the cause of the Father as Jesus gave Himself up to death—so
the martyrs for the cause of the Father, in Christ, gave themselves up to
martyrdom. They realized that this life here upon earth is only a relative
good. They 
would not trade it in a million years in denial of Christ for the saving of
that life, trading it for eternal life. Their whole being shuddered at this
idea. They realize that this life—good as it is—is not the ultimate life,
eternal life is. And yet paradoxically in a type of contradiction according to
the minds of some, the ones who think in a worldly way, they cannot realize
that these very martyrs who gave up life upon this earth took it with utter
seriousness, much more, with much more seriousness than do those who do not
believe in eternal life. And why do they take it with utter seriousness, this
life which they gave up in martyrdom? Because they realized it was a
preparation for eternal life and they made the most of it. They knew that each
day of their lives their eternity was being shaped, and that's why the saints
who even died at an early age, for instance St. Theresa of Lisieux, died at
the age I believe it was 24, St. Claude de Columbiere, the great apostle
of the Sacred Heart, died at the age of 41. His great partner in spreading the
devotion of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque died at
the age of 43. Two of the young Jesuit saints, seminarians, died in their
twenties. So these saints who died at a relatively early age, we know how much
importance they put upon each day, because they knew each day was shaping
their eternities and those whom they were called to help on the way to eternal
life.
So let us not waste our days, each day is
so precious. We speak of the age old mountains, the deathless stars, the
eternal hills. And yet these expressions we have for timelessness are only a
faint indication of the timelessness of eternity. So let us look upon each day
as a precious opportunity to help shape our eternities according to God's will
and help others to shape their eternities according to God's will. Even the
longest life passes so quickly. Our days are numbered—let us remember that.
Let us make the most of them. The Book of Sirach reminds us, in relationship
to this earth time-span and the timelessness of eternity, we read, "The
length of his life: a hundred years at most. Like a drop of water from the
sea, or a grain of sand, such are these few years compared with
eternity." (Sirach 18: 9-10)
end of August 14, 2000 homily
August
23,
2000
Father Carter's Homily
John 6: 51-58
"'I am the living bread which has come down from
heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that
I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ Then the Jews
started arguing among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to
eat?’ Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat
the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I
shall raise that person up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and
my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in
me and I live in that person. As the living Father sent me and I draw life
from the Father, so whoever eats me will also draw life from me. This is
the bread which has come down from heaven; it is not like the bread our
ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for
ever."
Fr. Carter's homily:
In this beautiful section from John's
Gospel, Jesus speaks to us of the Eucharist, that most loving gift of Himself
in the Eucharist.
It is easy for a star athlete to fall into
the trap of making his or her sport the center of his or her existence. All
one's thoughts and so much of one's activity is given to excelling in that
particular sport. Sport can, unless the athlete takes proper precautions, be
all consuming. It becomes the center of his or her existence. The same with an
actor or an actress. The field is so competitive and the artistic drive 
within
a person in this field of endeavor can take over in a wrong way and make an
acting career the all-be of that person's existence, the end for which that
person exists, the center of that person's existence. The same with a research
scientist, he or she can become so absorbed in scientific research and
reaching a solution to scientific inquiry in this or that respect that again,
the science becomes the center of that person's existence. And a
businessman—business success and the making of more and more money can
become the center of that person's existence. Or even another human person,
for another person can become the center of that person's existence. These, of
course, are all misdirected approaches regarding the center of life, the
center of one's life, the center of one's existence. And the center of
existence for the committed Christian, it is the Eucharistic Christ. It is the
Eucharistic Christ.
end of August 23, 2000 homily
August 15, 2001 message continues
Messenger: Here are some letters received.
We are sending the Apostles of the Eucharistic
Heart material to the priests in the 90 countries.
We still need about $9,000 for the postage.
The bags are sitting in China ready
to go.
Here is some letters of the overwhelming
response we have already received
from the Foreign mailing.
Archbishop's House
Pakistan
6 August 2001
Dear Rev. _____
I am not sure if you are a
priest or a layman, but for safety's
sake I addressing you as Rev. _____
It is my task to expose the
Blessed Sacrament every afternoon
for adoration in the St. _____ Cathedral, so I spend at least half
an hour in adoration every weekday quite regularly. I do not know
if this entitles me to obtain membership of the Apostles of the
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, but that is not necessary.
On Sundays, we do not expose
the Blessed Sacrament, as there
are 5 regular Masses, and as a priest I myself have about three Masses
each Sunday. If I get time, I make my meditation in the afternoon in
the private Chapel.
Some other Parishes too have
regular adoration in their
churches, and I will ask them if they wish to be enrolled as Apostles
of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Archbishop of _____
Diocese of ______
2 August 2001
Dear John,
Loving greetings and prayerful wishes to you from Bishop _____ of
the diocese of _____, A.P. India. Received your membership form to
join the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. Thank you for the
same and herewith I am filling the form and sending to you for the
membership. Please send more forms for my priests and religious. Happy
also to hear that you are getting ready with the Newsletter Book II. I
wish all success for the same. Let us all learn to love the Eucharistic
Heart of Jesus and draw more graces from it.
With blessings,
+ _______
Bishop of ______
Diocese of ______
2 August 2001
Dear John,
Loving greetings and prayerful wishes to you from Bishop _____ of
the diocese of _____, A.P. India.
I received a parcel of the Audio Cassettes of the Shepherds of Christ
Ministries. But they are only enough for some of my priests only.
Therefore I request you to send me another parcel of 30 sets of cassettes
more for my priests and religious in the diocese. You can send them
directly to my address and I shall make it available for the priests.
Wishing you all the best and prayers, I remain
Yours in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus,
+ _______
Ghana
July 24, 2001
Dear Rev. Ed. Carter,
APPRECIATION
I am most grateful for the additional materials. I have been away
for some time now. The external assignment is virtually over, at
least for now.
I am glad to inform you that some of the groups to which I first
introduced this spiritual exercise have become conversant with the
procedure. They are now at home with the prayers and have
willingly accepted the program. Here we are with the list of three
Chapters; 1. ______ chapter with (11) eleven members: _____
Chapter with (5) five, and _________ with (4) four. I
hope every indication here is satisfactory.
There are some other groups that I need to observe and assist
for some time. In due course their would be sent accordingly;
and again I am still looking for more avenues for the expansion
of the program. It is my prayer that these will work hard and that
we will be able to win more Associates to pray these intentions.
Thanks and May the Lord bless you.
Fraternally Yours
Rev. S.A.
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2001 2:49 AM
Subject: Membership Form
Dear John,
Thank you for the Newsletter, July 18, 2001, which I received a few days
ago, and I want to submit with all my heart my application for Membership to
the "Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus". The particulars,
as asked by the form, are as follows:
Fr. M.
C.
India.
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 10:58 PM
Subject: Request from Philippines
Dear Rev. Edward Carter, S.J. Editor
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
Greetings of peace & joy!
I am Sr. _______, a Novice Directress from the congregation of the
__________, Philippines. I have read one of the copies of your Shepherds
of Christ, a spirituality newsletter for Priests and others interested in
the spiritual life (Issue 3) 2000. I borrowed it from a friend. I was very
much impressed & nourished with this Special Issue, so I shared it to
my formandees and they like it very much. It is really a great help in
building up spiritual knowledge & life. In connection to this I would
like to ask your generous heart if you could send us a copy of your next
issues & so on in the future. I'd like also to know more information
about this newsletters, books & cassettes.
Thank you & God bless!
In Christ,
Sr. ___,
Philippines
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 7:11 PM
Subject: Permission to Print Article
Dear Shepherds of Christ
Last evening when reading God's Blue Book I came across the message
February 18, 1994 "Come to My Tabernacle" that I would like to
receive permission to publish.
I am the Chairman of the Society of __________ in New Zealand which is
a body that has been running for two years now and which was set up with
the approval of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference to whom we are annually
accountable. This year we will be publishing four newsletters that are
photocopied onto two A3 size sheets or alternatively fold into eight A4
pages. We tend to run articles from overseas Eucharistic Adoration Society
newsletters, the Internet, local stories and general interest items. We
only have about 250 members and ran off about 1000 copies of our last
issue.
We would be happy to post you a copy of our last issue so you can see
the quality of our presentation.
If you give your consent, we would be happy to list out the source and
any other particulars you may wish.
Yesterday we ordered a draft for $95 for the initial order that has
been placed.
May the Holy Spirit help you to spread these messages. Pat
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 10:43 AM
Subject: letter
Dear Father,
I am ____ ____, a graduate of philosophy from
the University of _____, I am Baptized and confirmed
in the catholic church, I love to be a catholic priest
and I have been trying to get in touch with any
diocese that will accept me until a friend of mine
came to visit me and I saw a copy of the shepherds of
christ newsletter.
In that newsletter, I saw a letter where Fr. ___________
of ______ in Sri Lanka said he has 72 seminarians and
he has received 60 applications out of which he will select
30 students. I also know that his Bishop is His Lordship,
Bishop F. _____. Fr. ____ also requested that some
copies of the newsletter be sent to him for his seminarians
and that gives me the confidence that you have his address.
Please, I sincerely want to apply to that diocese and I
want you to please, kindly help me to get in touch
with him. I also want to sincerely appeal to you, If
you can not get in touch, please, kindly send me their
e-mail address and postal address too, but preferably
their e-mail address, please.
I want to sincerely state that I am not requesting for
any financial assistance and if I am accepted, I can
come over on my own. Apart from the zeal to work
outside my country as a priest, I have strong family
opposition to my vocation.
Please father, apart from the diocese of Sir Lanka, if
there is any other diocese that can accept me,
please, kindly send me their e-mail and postal
addresses. I want to thank you for the newsletter. It
has totally renew my spirituality. May God continue to
assist you people. I hope I am not asking too much. I
would have love to get a copy of the newsletter.
I am anxiously expecting your favourable reply, I
strongly appeal to you to please help me out. Looking
forward to hearing from you soon.
Bye,
Yours in Christ
Tony.
Nigeria.
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 8:29 AM
Subject: Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
Dear John,
Greetings of peace and Joy in the Lord from New Delhi
- INDIA.
Thank you for the membership form which I am also sending by post.
Congratulations for spreading the devotion and Love for the Eucharistic
Lord. His presence in our Life makes all the difference.
I certainly would count it a privilege to be a member
of the
Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.
Kindly include my name too.
Please note my new address:
Wishing you a very happy feast of the Assumption of
our Blessed Mother,
In our Eucharistic Lord,
Fr. M.V. S.D.B.
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 5:07 AM
Subject: Membership Form
Dear Rev. Fr. ___
I am from Sri Lanka and I receive your Shepherds of Christ continuously. I
gain so much of valuable blessings by them and I give copies of the
newsletter to priests in Sri Lanka too.
I am so happy to be part of the movement of the Eucharistic Heart of
Jesus.
I make it a point to daily visit the Blessed Sacrament and pray before
Jesus
who is alive. I am so glad now I can pray the chaplet of the Shepherds of
Christ as a volunteer. I will get more members enrolled from our local
church who would volunteer to pray before the Blessed Sacrament and fax
you
details.
I strongly believe that prayers said before the Blessed Sacrament never go
unanswered. Please do let me know if you need any help from Sri Lanka and
with God's help I will do all I could to spread this devotion amongst the
local people.
May God bless all the wonderful work you are doing.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. A. E.
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 7:41 AM
Subject: greetings from ______
I am regular reader of your book let. Yours is a wonderful site in the web
Fr. M. K.
Secretary to the bishop
To: info@SofC.org
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 1:39 PM
Subject: Change of Address
Medjugorje
Mon Aug 6, 2001
Dear Mr. _____, Peace!
I am an American born Franciscan of Croatian descent. I served here for
confessions etc 13 years during which time I used to receive your mailings
under the name:
Rev. P., O.F.M.
While visiting here recently, your mailing of July 18, 2001 arrived.
However,
since last October I am back in the USA, so would like to inform you about
my
change of address. But if you would like to continue sending your mailings
to
Medjugorje, put in the name of this priest instead and make the
corresponding
corrections.
Rev S. K., O.F.M.
I was surprised and sorry to learn of Fr Carter's death last December.
May the Eternal Shepherd now fully reveal himself to Fr. Carter and bring
all
the rest of us home safely forever too. May He reward you and bless your
work
on behalf of his priests.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. P. OFM
(End of excerpt of August 15, 2001)
March
10, 2002 message continues
Messenger: March 11, 1994, Friday night
I
talked at the Holy Spirit Center,
(the old Seminary), Mt. St. Marys, where
the Shepherds of Christ Movement was
born. Many of the core members
saw me for the first time.
God is almighty, this is His plan.
Now think about this:
The first Priestly Newsletter Books
will reach the priests in the United
States in the mail on March 11, 2002
the sixth month anniversary of
September 11, 2001 and the
anniversary of when I first
spoke at the old Seminary,
March 11, 1994. Eleven days later
March 22, 1994, it was Lucia's
birthday, the main visionary
from Fatima.
March
10, 2002 message continues
Messenger: March 22, 1994 the corner fell off
the old Seminary.
March
10, 2002 message continues
Messenger: We pray for the priests, the
Church and the world.
Excerpt from February 15, 2002 message
Jesus speaks: Make
a list of things that are needed so people
can help if they so desire.
Messenger:
A small list is this
1) Priestly Newsletter Book II Foreign Mailing Postage
2) Mass Book II
3) Rosary Meditations for Little People and Elderly
4) Blue Book I printing
5) Prayer Manuals printing
6) Holy Spirit Novena Booklet printing
7) Rosary beads
8) Image rosaries to sell
9) Pictures (photo's) to make available
10) Blankets of Mary's image
11) Videos for nursing home program
February 7, 2002
To whom it may concern,
We circulate the Priestly Newsletter that goes to
75,000 priests in the world. This has been circulated since 1994 at the
direction of Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. who had a doctorate in Theology and
taught at Xavier University for over thirty years and author of eighteen
books on the spiritual life and many other various publications.
Our primary purpose is to circulate this Newsletter.
We are now sending three years of Newsletters in a book of 342 pages to
75,000 priests in the United States and 90 foreign countries. A special
Newsletter is enclosed with Father Carter's powerful writing on Grace (2001
issue 1). This writing is also available on tape and on disc.
Our coequal purpose is to circulate prayer manuals
Father Carter compiled for prayer chapters praying for the priests, the
Church and
the world.
All of our printing and postage costs so much money.
We operate from the Virgin Mary building in
Clearwater, Florida, pictures are enclosed. We use the building to spread
materials and rosaries
to encourage people to pray for the priests, the Church and the world.
We also have a church we received from the diocese in
China, Indiana where we distribute our materials and pray before the Blessed
Sacrament hourly and about two hours or more at 6:20 every day. Monthly
adoration before the exposed Eucharist is held for our members for 48 hours
on the 12th of each month to the 14th.
We have a third center in Morrow, Ohio which is our
communication center and mailing address.
We circulate rosaries handmade to Catholic schools all
over the United States and meditation sheets and consecration cards. We try
to send scapulars too when we have them. We supply many beads to our rosary
makers for this.
We had difficulty all last summer securing funds for
beads for our rosary makers. We were not able to send the 100,000 or more
rosaries we usually send in October and May because of funds.
We need $10,000 every month for the loan on the Virgin
Mary building. We pray nightly there usually for about two hours or more at
6:20. We pray all through the day there, hourly, many times before the
image. A big prayer meeting is held on the 5th of the month. Prayers are
prayed for about 4 hours for the priests, the Church and the world. We
broadcast to at least 8 states and all join in the prayers, including Morrow
and China.
We have a nursing home ministry and a prison ministry.
We supply coloring books of the rosary mysteries and the Mass to children.
We desperately need funds for the printing and the
rosary making operation and all the postage. Bishops from foreign countries
beg for rosaries and prayer sheets with the Shepherds of Christ Prayers.
Now we are struggling with the monthly rent on the
building and the postage for the foreign mailing of the Priestly Newsletter
Book II.
We always need money for the rosary beads for the
schools and the Virgin Mary building.
We also do a Holy Spirit Novena, but the little book
has been out of print for some time because of lack of funds. Teachers like
to use it for confirmation. We have prayer chapters using it daily all over
the world.
We want to circulate pictures of the crucifix and
Mary's image on the building, we are unable to do this because of lack of
funds. Enclosed are pictures of the crucifix and the Virgin Mary building.
A very important part of our Movement is trying to get
people to say the Morning Offering. Here is a card we distribute
extensively, especially to Nursing Homes and school children.
Here is a short form of consecration to the Hearts of
Jesus and Mary that we circulate extensively.
Can you help us. It is a real shame to not even have rent
on the building Mary appears on.
We need to tell the world about the Mass. This is
another important aspect of our ministry. We have so many writings about the
Mass. Mass Book I with the Imprimatur—and all Fr. Carter's
writings and many other writings discerned by Fr Carter before his death.
It is a shame with all the money in the world not to
be able to get the rosary beads to the rosary makers for school children who
want them to pray the rosary.
Our movement is trying to do what Our Lady told us to
do at Fatima for peace in the world.
Can you help us?
Rita Ring
Shepherds of Christ Ministries
dwell on the great gift which is ours in the Eucharist and to deepen our
spirit of thanksgiving. We have the Eucharist in the Mass as sacrifice, in
which Jesus invites us as we share in His priestly power to offer sacrifice to
the Father in the Spirit. And then we have the Eucharist as Sacrament, as we
receive Jesus in His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity at Communion time. And
then we have the ongoing opportunity of visiting, of worshipping, of praying
to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament as that is reserved in the
tabernacle.
Mary
talks to the Nursing Homes
click
here to download The Story of the Crucifix video
Copyright
© 2002 Shepherds of Christ.