Thinking about spiritual reading for Lent?

Discerning a call to the priesthood?

If you know a priest struggling with their vocation, give them this book.

Add a copy of Father Gobbi book To the Priest, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons shopping list.  This inspiring book will open your heart to The Blessed Mother’s call to conversion.  This book is not just for priest (even though it is written to them).

On May 8, 1972 the Mother of God impressed upon Father Gobbi the desire to start the Marian Movement of Priest.  Since then this movement has spread throughout the world.
Since 1973 Father Gobbi has been receiving interior locutions from Our Blessed Mother.  Along with the rosary, this book will help lead you into deep intimacy with the Blessed Mother.

For anyone looking for a book for their own person retreat into the depths of The Immaculate Conception, read this.

If you desire to grow closer to the Blessed Mother and want an easy to read day by day meditation, read this.

Please let me know how you like it!

Fatima

Out Lady of Fatima has gained many converts for Jesus Christ by her message of peace and conversion.  The Secretes of Fatima have caused many to repent and turn towards God.  However, many, including myself, have forgotten what she warned against.

“I am the Lady of the Rosary,” she said on October 13, 1917.  “And I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  They must not continue to offend our Lord who has been so deeply offended.  They must say the rosary.”

Glenn Beck has published an excellent documentary on communism and the horrible effects it has unleashed on our world.  It is a short 7 part series.  This series is an excellent reminder of what our Lady has warned us about.

I had forgotten many of the atrocities mentioned and shown in the series.  This short series renewed my dedication to our Blessed Mother’s call for conversion

Click here to view the embedded video.

The same month a miraculous fireball appeared in the sky and our Lady reveled herself, Communism spread throughout Russia.

What does Our Lady of Fatima ask of Us?

1. The Daily Rosary
2. Wearing of the Brown Scapular
3. Sacrifices to save sinners
4. Devotion of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the First Saturdays
5. Amendment of Life
6. Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the Holy Father in union with all the Bishops of the world

Why does Mary, the Mother of God, ask this?

1. To make reparation
2. Save Souls from hell
3. Obtain Peace in the world

The Blessed Mother said, “People must cease offending God, who is already too much offend…Pray, pray much, and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to Hell because there is no one to make sacrifices and to pray for them.”

Share the Message of Fatima

I often hear the phrase, “If you want peace for work justice.”  But I think this is incorrect.  If you want peace listen and follow what the Blessed Mother is giving her children.  Our Lady has outlined a peace plan, but who follows it?

Young Adult, Parish Ministry, College Catholic Neuman Centers,

This video is an excellent way to spark conversation and interest in the Fatima message, especially conversion.  It gives an image to the fruit of Communism and a reason to pray for peace.

Mary, the Mother of God

This is a powerful movie on apparitions of The Blessed Mother which will provide an excellent teaching opporutnity to a youth group or parish group.  The quality of recording is low (But you can buy the original).

This video would also make a great addition to any parish or group email list.  Or go old school and take notes and then present it to your group.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Apparitions talked about in this movie

• Marian Apparitions in Fatima, Portugal
• Beauraing and Banneux, Belgium
• Garabandal, Spain
• Zeitun, Egypt
• Akita, Japan
• Betania, Venezuela
• Medugorje, Yugoslavia
• Kibeho, Rwanda
• Naju, South Korea
• Soviet, Ukraine

(play this video for the 2nd Decade, and replay it 3 more times for Decades 3-5)

Apostles Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer
FIRST DECADE:
Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, and Fatima Prayer

As you pray the first mystery reflect on the appropriate mystery according to the day (M, T, W, Th, F, S) and ask for the indicated grace, which is identified after each Mystery:

The Five Luminous Mysteries

Sisters Praying

Thursday 1. The Baptism in the Jordan
2. The Wedding at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist

The Five Joyful Mysteries
Monday & Saturday 1. The Annunciation: Humility
2. The Visitation: Charity
3. The Birth of Our Lord: Poverty, or detachment from the world
4. The Presentation of Our Lord: Purity of heart, obedience
5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple: Piety

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
Tuesday & Friday 1. The Agony in the Garden: Contrition for our sins
2. The Scourging at the Pillar: Mortification of our senses
3. The Crowning with Thorns: Interior mortification
4. The Carrying of the Cross: Patience under crosses
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord: That we may die to ourselves

The Five Glorious Mysteries
Sunday & Wednesday 1. The Resurrection: Conversion of heart
2. The Ascension: A desire for heaven
3. The Coming of the Holy Ghost: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
4. The Assumption of our Blessed Mother into Heaven: Devotion to Mary
5. The Coronation of our Blessed Mother: Eternal happiness

Mysteries provided by Catholic Online: http://catholic.org or specifically at:http://www.catholic.org/prayers/mystery.php (less info)

The latest commercial targets Senator Casey and his promotion using Pennsylvania tax dollars to fund abortion.

Click here to view the embedded video.

On December 15, 2009 the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops realeased a document regarding abortion and health care reform.  Below is a small excerpt followed by the entire article.

Don’t permit federal funds for elective abortion coverage for first time in decades
Let legal immigrants access health benefits for which they pay taxes
Three issues for bishops: respect life and conscience; affordability; fair access for immigrants

http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-260.shtml

Take Action

The following link allows one to take action and contact their Senator in opposition to providing funding for abortion in the health care reform.  It would be beneficial to include this link in your parish website, bulletin, or school announcements.

http://actions.nchla.org/Core.aspx?AID=970&APP=GAC&IssueID=19513&SiteID=-1

Additional Videos from United States Catholic Conference of Abortion

Click here to view the embedded video.

Make sure you have a projector, speakers, and computer.

The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us — all of us. And, he wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.

For more information http://thedivinemercy.org/message/

Here is a series of videos on Divine Mercy by EWTN

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

More Divine Mercy Videos

Click here to view the embedded video.

This next video is ok.  Maybe take part of it and edit it with your own background music.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Father Don Calloway – Short conversion story about an amazing priest.  Divine Mercy had a large impact on his conversion.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Second part of Father Don Calloway

Click here to view the embedded video.

This message of Divine Mercy is powerful for all.

This holy mother accomplishes more than we could do on our own. Her adversary, Satan, retreats in her presence

Excuses
My Parish is facing bankruptcy.

The school lacks the funds for operation.

Mass attendance has significantly decreased.

The Remedy -> Marian Devotion

No management strategy, marketing initiative, or dog and pony show succeeds with the same results as consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Parish Rosary, or First Saturday devotion.

She unties the knots that the devil has placed before the parish. She leads all to Jesus with great success. The Lord desires us to go through Mary to be made perfect for Jesus.

If you have tried everything, try Marian devotion. The cost is devotion, the results are supernatural. She is full of grace.

Monday night football at John’s house is filled with junk food,  emotions, and friends.  It is informal and lends itself to informal behaviors.  Interviews for jobs consist of pressed suites, strong handshakes, and sharp speech.  Most times it is formal and lends itself to proper behavior.

Attendance rates have dropped significantly in many diocese across the country.  With less Catholics attending Mass the collection dwindles.  There are many reasons this is occurring; however I am only focusing on the environment of our Catholic Churches.

By returning our Churches to sacred, holy, spaces it will help catechize the laity and direct their souls to be in communion with God.

If the the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is entering into the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, than we should do all that is proper to make it fit for a king.  When people are in communion with God, they offer their entire life to Him.
The problem with low collections stem from the fact that Church has become unimportant in the hearts of many Catholics.

They feel no need to tithe or give of their time.  In many instances the parish has made the mass insignificant to their flock by taking our the reverence.

The thought that eliminating sacred vessels, pious practices, beautiful vestments, and traditional architecture has not increased people’s faith, but decreased it.  Those vessels, practices, and vestments help direct our senses to what is being reveled.  Therefore, every object in the Church should help direct the congregation into holy worship to God.

7 Improvements for Mass Attendance

1.  New Vestments – Vestments are expensive, however they can be hand made by parishioners, found on eBay, located in the missions, purchased from Rome, or taken out of storage.

2.  Sacred Vessels – Yes gold is expensive, but there are many diocese who have saved their vessels from closed Churches which are inexpensive.  In addition ask for donations, look in storage, or look overseas.

3.  Alter Cloths -  The Alter is in the center of the Church where everybody looks.  Make it sacred.

4.  Statues, Devotional Images, Stained Glass – All of these can be found on eBay, closed Churches, or overseas.  Look in the basement.

5.  Kneelers – If they have been taken out, put them back in.

6.  Rubrics – If the Church says it does or doesn’t belong in the Church, then follow it.

7.  Pray – Offer up mass for the parish or hold a parish novena.

Before I could continue, in came one of my parish priest with the Eucharist.  He stayed for a while, made conversation, laughed, and prayed.  Shortly after he left another priest came in the door.  At this point I was amazed at the dedication these men had for the priestly ministry of visiting the sick.

The one priest didn’t even know I was in the hospital, but looked at the Catholic list when he arrived for his normal rounds.

Has a priest made an impression on you?

In the Year of the Priest it is important to encourage our priest in their vocation because the environment we live in does not support their vocation.  Without the priest, we do not have the Eucharist.

10 Ways to Thank Priest During the Year of the Priest

1. Hold a parish adoration hour in thanksgiving for the priest “yes” to the priesthood.
2. Run a Hail Mary campaign.  Have all the school students pray multiple Hail Marys for the priest and put all the prayers in a card as a spiritual bouquet.
3. Place nice hand made posters in the back of the Church with pictures and a short bio of all the priest who came or were stationed at the parish.
4. Enroll the priest in a Mass or offer communion for the priest.
5. Invite the priest over for dinner.
6. Say a family rosary and write a thank you card to the priest.
7. Pray for the priest at dinner every night.
8. Do not criticize or spread gossip about the priest failings for 40 days.
9. Attend and encourage your friends to attend the sacraments and thank the priest for offering them.
10. Tell the priest “Thank You” as often as possible.

Please share your experiences or “Ways to Say Thank You.”

For those who have seen Fishers of Men, this movie is made by the same people.  This movie is incredible.  It makes for an awesome youth night and will make a lasting impression on both your teens and yourself.  It would make for a whole parish event.

We must love everyone…Even those with nothing said John B. 9 years old

Click here to view the embedded video.