Please Pray for Fr. Joe & Bob
     

Prayer for Grace for our Country

Dear Father united to Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacrifice of Calvary sacramentally made present, celebrated around the world, in the Holy Spirit. We offer up all we do united to the Mass. We unite in one mind and one heart as members of the mystical body of Christ, with Christ our head in the pure and holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, through the powerful intercession of Mary with all the angels and saints and souls in purgatory, and we beg for the saving grace, for our country, the United States. Please help us. We further pray for unity to always do the will of God in love. We spread the Blood of Jesus on the leaders and people of the United States and cast the devil into hell. We consecrate our country to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and all our dioceses, and beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God help us. We pray for our families, the priests, the Church and the world. In the Name of Jesus please hear us, we pray. We pray for our president and leaders. We pray that we are united as one nation under God to work together in love as God wants.  

   

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
    Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
    Come, within our bosoms shine!

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul's most welcome guest;
    Sweet refreshment here below;

In our Labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
    Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
    And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, man has naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
    Nothing free from taint of ill!

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
    Wash the stains of guilt away;

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
    Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
    In your sev'nfold gift descend;

Give them virtue's sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
    Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Alleluia.
 

Sing: Come Holy Ghost  

 

May 22, 2021

R. True forgiveness is given without expecting anything in return.

Love comes from a heart full of God’s love.

Strength is in God, not in oneself.

The Holy Spirit transforms hearts of fear to fearlessness.

When a person is full of darkness, they can be healed by God, forgiven and receive mercy, if they ask for forgiveness and are sorry for their sins.

God is a God of miracles.

Hatred is darkness, sickness of soul.

Jesus died because of love of us!!

God wants us to live in peace and unity and love.

Reconciliation, forgiveness of hatred toward one’s brother.

God is love - He wants intimacy with us.
He wants us so one with Him in love.

Sound the trumpet, God loves us so much.

God wants closeness with Him.
It’s not there is too much suffering in this world but so much is wasted.

God is love and in Him is no darkness.

God calls us to give ourselves in love in our vocation and obedience to the Father’s will.

Many Saints suffered so for the Church and the world.

Some had the stigmata.
Some were martyrs.

The rose is so beautiful, but comes with thorns.

 

 

R. I wonder how tall was Jesus at the Finding in the Temple?

 

May 22, 2021

Glorious Mysteries

The Resurrection

1. Luke 24: 1-12

On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they could not find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled about this, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women bowed their heads to the ground. But the two said to them, ‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of man was destined to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day.’ And they remembered his words.

And they returned from the tomb and told all this to the Eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. And the other women with them also told the apostles, but this story of theirs seemed pure nonsense, and they did not believe them.

Peter, however, went off to the tomb, running. He bent down and looked in and saw the linen cloths but nothing else; he then went back home, amazed at what had happened.

2. From New Homily Book - Easter - April 11, 2004

HOMILY - ... * Are we experiencing some kind of sickness or suffering? Jesus’ resurrection assures us God created us for more than just for this life, but for his kingdom where there will be no more suffering, no more tears, no more sadness.

3. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

* Do we suffer from loneliness? It was always a great help to me whenever I felt lonely to remember that I am never alone. Jesus is alive and is with me. He’s always as close as a branch is to a vine. He’s so close to his people that he could say to Saul, when he was persecuting Christians, “Why are you persecuting me?”

4. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

Are we depressed because we hate ourselves for who we are or for something we did? The risen Christ came to give us new life, to make us a new creation, to give us peace. His first words to the apostles when he appeared to them on Easter Sunday night were “Peace be with you.”

5. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

Every year we celebrate the same event. Every year the story is the same. But every year we are not the same. Events change in our lives and the assurance that Jesus has risen and invites us to share his risen life takes on different meaning as the years pass.

6. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

In this world, it seems God seems so distant from us. Yet we believe that someday we will see him “face to face” and experience his peace and joy forever. Did we ever ask ourselves, if we feel distant from God now but some day we are going to be close to him, what has to change? Is God going to change? That would be impossible, since God is perfect and any change would have to mean he became less perfect. If we are going to be closer to God someday, and God’s not going to be the one to change, then it has to be us!

7. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

And that’s why we keep celebrating these mysteries year after year: so we can keep changing, so we can keep moving in the direction that will lead us to the fullness of life God created us for. But we must keep in touch with these mysteries. That’s why God gave us a commandment to keep holy the Lord’s day, because he knows how quickly we can forget him. That’s why the Church makes it a serious obligation to come to Mass every week, so we keep in touch.

8. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

The resurrection is real. It is something we accept on faith, but our faith is very reasonable. It is so reasonable to believe in the resurrection of Jesus, in fact, that a person could say it would be foolish not to. The resurrection of Jesus was the central proclamation of the apostles from the beginning. So it is not a legend that evolved in the course of time. And many who knew Jesus before his death testified to having seen him after he had risen. The fact that the women reported the empty tomb bolsters the credibility of the resurrection.

9. Easter - April 11, 2004 continues

And lastly, the apostles had nothing to gain materially from proclaiming the resurrection and they were willing to die for what they were witnesses to. People sometimes will die for their beliefs, like the suicide bombers who believe that 72 virgins are awaiting them when they die, but the apostles did not die for something they simply believed. They died for what they witnessed, the risen Jesus whom they saw many times. And I am sure that if they were preaching a lie, they would not have been willing to die for it. Rather people usually lie to escape death or punishment, not to bring it on themselves.

The resurrection is real. But each of us must make it real for ourselves.

10. 2nd Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2004

INTRODUCTION – The four gospels tell us about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Essentially, the rest of the New Testament tells us about Jesus after his resurrection and ascension, how he continued his work through his followers and through the Church.

 

The Ascension

1. Luke 24:50-53

Then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and raising his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God.

2. We see the power of Jesus at work through the signs and wonders that the Apostles worked.

3. Jesus will not abandon those who are faithful to Him.

4. 2nd Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2004

HOMILY - ...Faith essentially means trusting someone when we have no clear signs. Faith is not the same as putting our trust in anyone and everyone. That’s just being naive and gullible. At the same time, if we are afraid to trust anyone we will live in our own little world of fear and paranoia. It’s a difficult balance to keep knowing who we can and who we cannot trust.

5. Acts 1: 6-11

Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?' He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth's remotest end.'

As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them, and they said, ‘Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.’

6. 2nd Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2004 continues

One person we can trust is Jesus. In our second reading, Jesus appeared to John and told him “Do not be afraid.” Fear is the opposite of trust. When he tells us do not be afraid, he is telling us to trust him. He is the master over life and death, for as he said, “I hold the keys to death.”

7. 2nd Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2004 continues

Another way of saying all this is Jesus’ greeting to his apostles on Easter Sunday night: “Peace be with you.” A person full of fear and anxiety and worry does not know peace. Before we know peace we have to know who we can trust and know that our trust is secure.

8. 2nd Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2004 continues

Our trust is secure in Jesus but we all wish the Lord would give us a little more proof, as he did to Thomas. Three times John’s gospel tells us Thomas was called the twin. Why do you think John made such a point of the fact that he was a twin? Perhaps in a symbolic way we are his twin, wanting proof like he did. Thomas wouldn’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus, even with the other ten apostles and some of the women telling him it happened. But I still have to give Thomas credit. He could have walked away and said “you’re all crazy. I’m getting out of here.” He stayed with them through what must have been a very difficult week for him. I think there’s a lesson here. When we have doubts and questions about our faith, we need to stay with it and not walk away. If Thomas had walked away, he would never have seen the Lord. The gospel is telling us, if we stay with it, the Lord will reveal himself to us. We will see him and know him, maybe not with our eyes, but with our mind and heart.

9. We believe what Jesus told us. We trust Jesus!!!

10. We believe Jesus is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist.

 

The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles

1. The Holy Spirit is a gift.

2.”Lord Giver of life.”

3. Feast of Pentecost - May 30, 2004

HOMILY - ... But the Spirit is not only a personal gift, it is a gift given to us for the general good of the Church. The Spirit’s role is to unite all God’s people to God and to one another. Jesus said to the Apostles: “receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive they are forgiven.” Sin separates us from God and, through the gift of the Spirit to the Church, God forgives our sins and unites us with Himself. The Spirit’s role in uniting us with one another is illustrated in the Apostles speaking to people of many lands and languages and everyone understanding what they were saying.

4. Feast of Pentecost - May 30, 2004 continues

In other places in the Scriptures, Christ expressed his desire for us to be one in faith and love.

5. Feast of Pentecost - May 30, 2004 continues

The Spirit does not lead us to division but tries to lead us to live in peace and to be one body in Christ.

6. Holy Spirit strengthen us in our needs.

7. It takes the Holy Spirit to help us live up to our vocation.

    It is challenging and we need strength from the Holy Spirit.

    The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our vocation!!!

8. Feast of Pentecost - May 30, 2004 continues

Lastly I have to mention family and friends. No one makes it this far in life without the help of others. Without a spouse or children, life could be lonely. But I have had very few lonely moments in my last 40 years. My family and friends have been a constant support (many of whom are here today).

9. Feast of Pentecost - May 30, 2004 continues

There’s no doubt about it, there have been trying times, as there are in every person’s life. Yet I have found that being a priest has been most rewarding and most fulfilling. It is also very humbling. I do not think of myself as any better than anyone else, so it is humbling to be chosen to celebrate with people at happy times like at a wedding or a baptism or to support people in times of suffering, sickness or loss. It is humbling to preach, lead people in prayer or to hear the confessions of people I know who are more intelligent or talented or holier than I am. But I’m glad I am what I am, and I’m glad I’ve lived the life I have. It’s been a blessing, and it’s been a blessing being here at St. Boniface. I thank everyone for their love and support.
   

 

10. From the Prayer Manual

Holy Spirit Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, almighty Sanctifier, God of love, who filled the Virgin Mary with grace, who wonderfully changed the hearts of the apostles, who endowed all Your martyrs with miraculous courage, come and sanctify us. Enlighten our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgment, set our hearts on fire, and preserve us from the misfortunes of resisting Your inspirations. Amen.  

 

The Assumption

1. Revelation 12: 1-2

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth.

2. Sing: Immaculate Mary

3. Sing: See the Eyes that Look at Mary

4. Sing: Ave, Ave, Ave Maria

5. Mary was taken body and soul up to heaven.

6. Mary: Many of my children are sinning and are not sorry.

7. Mary: You are here to grow in the spiritual life.

8. Mary: You are here to prepare for heaven.

9. Mary: Pray the rosary.

10. Mary: Give your hearts to my Immaculate Heart and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

The Queenship of Mary

1. Sing: Hail Holy Queen

2. From the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace,

3. Mary is Mother of the Eucharist.

4. Mary is our mother.

5. Mary's Message - from the Rosary of August 27, 1996

Mary:  I stood beneath the cross of my Son, and my Heart was in such pain for I saw Him before my eyes. I saw Him covered with blood. I saw Him die. My Heart, my children, my Heart to watch my Son, but my Heart, my Heart, how I suffered for my little children of the world that give in to this world and give up the love of my Son. O my little children of light, I give you this message. Carry this light into the darkness for your Mother Mary, for I stood beneath the cross and I cried. I cried for the little ones. I cried for the young ones, the ones that do not care and will lose their souls. How do I make you see for you will not listen to me? What can I do? I come. I appear. I beg. I plead. I give you these gifts from my Son, and you reject me. I do not deliver messages very often anymore for I have been ignored. The message is the same. You do not read the messages I have given to you. Please help me. Help the little children. I appear. I appear. I appear, and I am ignored. I stood beneath the cross, and I cried. I cried, and my Heart was in such anguish for my little children, for I am searching for them this day as I searched for the Child Jesus. Please, please help me. I cannot hold back the hand of my Son any longer. I am Mary, your Mother. I ask you to help my children. You are my children of light. end of Mary's Message
 

6. From Tell My People by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. - The Holy Spirit      

Jesus: "My beloved friend, tell My people to pray daily to the Holy Spirit. They are to pray for an increase in His gifts. My people must realize that the Holy Spirit comes to transform them. The Spirit desires to transform you more and more according to My image. Those who are docile to His touch become increasingly shaped in My likeness. He performs this marvel within Mary's Immaculate Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My own Heart. In both Our Hearts, then, your transformation continues. The more you are formed after My own Heart, the more I lead you to the bosom of My Father. Tell My people all this. Tell them to pray daily for a greater appreciation of these wondrous gifts. I am Lord and Master. All who come to My Heart will be on fire to receive the gifts of the Spirit in ever greater measure! I love and bless My people!"

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is given to us to fashion us ever more according to the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more Jesus leads us to the Father. Do we, each day, pray to the Holy Spirit to be more open to His transforming influence? Do we strive each day to grow in union with Mary? The greater our union with our Mother, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the greater is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit within us.

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord. As we dwell in the Heart of Mary, Your spouse, fashion us more and more according to the Heart of Jesus.  end of excerpt

7. Feast of the Assumption - August 15, 2004

HOMILY - ... Today’s feast honors Mary, for God himself has honored her. In her openness to God and in her willingness to always do whatever God wanted, God rewarded her in a unique way. But today’s feast also is a source of hope for us. Christ came, as he says in St. John’s gospel, that we might have the fullness of life. Our faith tells us our bodies too will share in that fullness. So Mary is allowed to enjoy ahead of time what God’s plan is for all of us who are faithful in following him and serving him.

8. Mary: I am Mother of the Eucharist and your mother.

9. Mary: I am Our Lady of Clearwater, I love you.

10. Mary Mother of God - January 1, 2004

HOMILY - ... My second profound thought is about time. It is precious. Use it well. And if we haven’t used it well in the past, it’s not too late to start over. Amen.