Feast of Saint Joseph – March 19th

Posted on March 20, 2018 by mikatsa6
st . joseph leading the Child Jesus.jpg

Saint Joseph Leading the Child Jesus

Prayer to St. Joseph for Assistance

O glorious St. Joseph, you were chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus, the most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, and the head of the holy family. You have been chosen by Christ’s Vicar as the heavenly patron and protector of the Church founded by Christ. Therefore, it is with great confidence that I implore your powerful assistance for the whole Church on earth. Protect in a special manner, with true fatherly love, the Pope and all bishops and priests in communion with the See of Peter. Be the protector of all who labor for souls amid the trials and tribulations of this life, and grant that all peoples of the world may follow Christ and the Church He founded.

Dear St. Joseph, accept the offering of myself, which I now make to you. I dedicate myself to your service, that you may ever be my father, my protector, and my guide in the way of salvation. Obtain for me great purity of heart and a fervent love for the spiritual life. May all my actions, after your example, be directed to the greater glory of God, in union with the divine Heart of Jesus, the immaculate heart of Mary, and your own paternal heart.

Finally, pray for me that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death.

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Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 18, 2018 by mikatsa6

Image borrowed from actual Jacksonville Eucharistic Congress site. The Monstrance is the one used in the procession.

Happy Saint Patrick’s day! Today I spent the day at a Eucharistic Congress that was being held this weekend in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. There were Catholics from all over the state and even some that had traveled from out of state to attend the celebrations and listen to prominent Catholic speakers. Among the guest speakers there were Father Larry Richards, who is known for his fabulous men conferences, and Dr. Ray Guarendi , who is a Catholic psychologist who has adopted and raised 10 children and has the hilarious stories to prove it. Last night there was a Living Stations of the Cross presentation, which was powerful and very moving….(click on the links to see a sample of what we experienced… it is worth the time, especially the Living Stations!)

There was confession offered by many of the priests throughout the duration of the event. This morning there was a Eucharistic Procession followed by Eucharistic adoration and the Holy Mass, which was celebrated by Archbishop Cardinal Wuerl, and many of the priests from our diocese. Just prior to the Mass, Cardinal Wuerl presented the keynote address. We did not get to attend the Mass, but the rest of the event was great and many faithful Catholics were able to spend the day re-evaluating the importance of the Eucharist and  the Catholic Faith in their day to day lives.

The focus of many of the talks was on the importance of the Eucharist, and how It is absolutely vital in our life….It is the Heart that beats Christ’s love into our day to day existence…It is the very source and summit of our lives...or rather…It should be…It nourishes us… Spiritually….as well as physically….We all need Christ. We all need the Eucharist. But unfortunately, many fail to understand this simple fact. As Christians we are called to be Christ to an often secular world. What better way to do this than by uniting ourselves with Him… We all need to recharge ourselves in the Lord….We need to allow ourselves to be filled with His Love…and His Words… Most of us do this at Mass…but this weekend...this Eucharistic Congress… was a  chance to get totally immersed in the message of the Eucharist and Christ’s Love. It was a special way to get away from the ordinary….A special way for us to prepare ourselves for this quickly approaching Holy Week….it was a time that reminded us that we need  to be able to rest in Christ….(Talk about the ultimate mini vacation.)…It was a nice break from the everyday… a nice escape from the secular world and the chaos that so often threatens the peace of our souls.

Anyway, back to Saint Patrick’s day. At the Eucharistic Congress there were quite a few people dressed in green for Saint Patrick’s day, but honestly not as many as I would have guessed, considering that it was a gathering of hundreds of faithful Catholics….and well, we all know Saint Patrick… was Catholic too. But after the Congress was over and we came home, I was unprepared for the amount of non-Catholics on television who were dressed in green! The local news was reporting from a  bar in town and everyone was wearing  green. Their shirts, and pants… many were even wearing glittering green hats and shamrock buttons! In fact it was a both sad and hilarious at the same time, because the whole news story was titled “Just who was Saint Patrick?” And no one they spoke to really knew who Saint Patrick was or why he was important… Several people even joked that it was just a drinking holiday that celebrated green Irish beer! It reminded me of the post I wrote last year…so instead of rewriting the same sentiments from last year, click here to read about the life of this truly remarkable saint who deserves to be remembered for more than a secular celebration that promotes green beer,  lucky clovers and leprechauns. Remember, we only have a few more days of Lent to help us prepare ourselves for Holy Week and Easter, so take it easy on the beer and maintain your focus on the Eucharistic Christ and  perhaps spend more time in prayer adoring the Lord who made you…adoring the Lord who loves you, more than you could ever know.

Religious People Can Be The Most Evil of All

Dear St. Patrick, in your humility, you called yourself a sinner, but you became a most successful missionary and prompted countless pagans to follow the Savior. Many of their descendants in turn spread the Good News in numerous foreign lands.

Through your powerful intercession with God, obtain the missionaries we need to continue the work you began.

Amen.

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Pope Saint Innocent I

Posted on March 14, 2018 by mikatsa6

pope Innocent I

Throughout the entire history of the Catholic Church there have been many rumblings and uprisings against the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church…and the 5th century was no different. In fact, it was a time much like ours, in the way that people were grumbling amongst themselves and pagan groups were moving quickly throughout many lands, threatening the new Christianity, using  barbaric means to do so.

It was at this time that the 40th pope, Pope Innocent I, stressed the importance of the primacy of the Holy See of Rome, over all of the Church, both west and East alike. He preached not only in Europe, but in Africa and Asia as well…uniting the faithful world over. And  not only was he a confessor to many, he was a staunch defender of the True Faith…a warrior of a man willing to give his life…his strength for the Church. He was a man who was willing to battle for the Church, and he understood that he had been chosen as a successor to Saint Peter…chosen by Jesus Christ to continue the Apostolic mission…This knowledge gave him the courage he needed to  fulfill his role as best he could. He was a man ready and willing to lay down his life for the Holy Mother Church. And that willingness to do whatever he had to, gave him the passion needed to be a good teacher.

He instructed the faithful regarding the Sacraments, including the Eucharist, Penance, and the Sacrament of Confirmation. He also took special care to instruct the faithful about the importance of making use of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. He wrote a letter in which he reminded the faithful that if anyone among them was sick that they were to contact a presbyter to pray over the person and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. He promoted the teaching that the Eucharist and Reconciliation should never be denied to one who was dying. He instructed them that the prayer of Faith would save the sick man, perhaps not physically, but the Lord would be able to cleanse the soul of the anointed one with forgiveness. As far as the Sacrament of Confirmation is concerned, he said that only Bishops could offer the Sacrament and that the Chrism oil should be reserved for this purpose.

During Pope Innocent I pontificate, Rome endured much suffering at the hands of the barbarians. Much like today, there was a great separation of the Church and state. But unlike today, the Church’s voice was held in esteem, so much so, that St. Augustine penned the famous phrase, “Roma locuta, causa finita est.” Which translates, “Rome has spoken, the matter is ended.” 

It was a time when the Fathers of the Church worked tirelessly for the Church and for peace. Sometimes they were successful and yet other times, not so much. But what sets them apart from many today is their dedication to the doctrine of Jesus Christ…their unwavering defense of the Truth. There was no mincing of words from Pope Innocent I. He had a job to do and he wasn’t going to allow the purity of the Faith to be distorted. He read the writings of Saint Augustine and Saint John Chrysostom, who labored with just as much zeal as he did in defending the Truth. He even became friends with the men, often corresponding with them about the teachings of the Holy Church, guiding the Faithful as a good Shepherd should. Throughout his papacy he kept his focus on discipline within the Church, rooting out sin and error. With the help of the Emperor of Rome, he passed decrees against heresy and immorality throughout Rome.

Under his pontificate, the foundation of the universality of the Church was strengthened. He strove to unite all the faithful, clerics and laity alike. He reinforced the doctrines of celibacy and self- deprivation, insisting on discipline within the ranks of clergy. He knew that the foundation of the Church and he spent his life defending that Truth. When he died he was buried in a basilica above the catacomb of Pontianus, next to his father’s tomb. As we remember this great and holy Pope…this great saint…let us pray to Pope Saint Innocent I so that we too may rise to end the crisis within the Church today… using our strength and energy to defend the teachings of Jesus Christ that have been the foundation of the One…Holy …Catholic….Apostolic Church for all of these years.

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Suffering as a Means of Attaining God’s Goodness and Mercy

Posted on March 7, 2018 by mikatsa6

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Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.
-St. Teresa of Avila

 

It seems that in our modern day, and in our somewhat twisted sense of God and His goodness, we have allowed ourselves to be lulled by the songs of the siren…the songs of a cunning  world that has become green with envy… a world gone mad with the hatred of what is good, a world that is hellbent and warped with the lies of the devil. It appears that not only has man grown accustomed to the secular world’s sense of what is right and what is wrong, but he has padded his nest with it as well, in other words, he has placed the fate of his family on the lies of the evil one.

Take suffering for instance. If  in the course of our lives, we are called to suffer, we tend to look at it with a world view…. Not only that, but we also tend to adopt the woe is me mentality and feel that somehow because of who we are, or what we have accomplished on our own, that we deserve better from God, than this. We question God’s good motives… and we look at illness or suffering as a sort of punishment for something. We are also quick to blame God. How quickly we fall right into the snares of the world and  look at our suffering without the grace of God’s mercy… without the grace of God’s embrace. Viewing our suffering this way is wrong. It separates us from feeling the love of the Lord. And it hurts us. All the way to the core. It’s damage goes all the way to the very soul of man.

Because without His Grace, we have no strength. Without God’s Grace, we lack the courage needed to face the demon on the hill. We are in essence denying ourselves the hope that can only come from God, then without that hope, our trust in the Lord begins to waiver… We become  shaken and weakened by the blows, and we begin to allow ourselves to fall into the traps of doubt set by the evil one.  We fall right into the lies of the very one who wants us to believe that we should be able to choose if we can live or we can die. I beg you, to please remember, there is no charity in the heart of the one who will lie us right out of our dignity to suffer and lie us out of the ability to earn graces for our eternal souls. There is no compassion in euthanized care, only death.

Roman Catholic and Christian: Meet the Newest Doctor of ...

 

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honor when we seek God’s glory. Present affliction become the source of heavenly glory. To those who suffer wounds in fighting his battles God opens his arms in loving, tender friendship. That is why he (Christ) tells us that if we want to join him, we shall travel the way he took.
–from a letter by Saint John of Avila

 

 

If tragedy befalls us and we are faced with a life that doesn’t turn out the way we want, suddenly, we want to change the rules. We want a way out. An easy way out of the pain and suffering.  This humanistic way of thinking is probably the main lie that has grown and festered over the past fifty years or so, and it has become an all too popular way of approaching  our suffering and our illnesses. Unfortunately, it goes against God’s rightful dominion over all things and leads many into the lie that promotes mercy killing or pushes the ‘right of man’ to end their life because they wish to avoid suffering. But, by allowing ourselves or our loved ones to follow this mindset, we are in fact removing God from our lives. Removing God from our very souls. We are denying God His Glory, and we are taking away any chance of God’s goodness and mercy to shine through the dark and pain of suffering. Which by the way, is often the fire that God allows so as to purify our souls before we die.

If we only knew the precious treasure hidden in infirmities, we would receive them with the same joy with which we receive the greatest benefits, and we would bear them without ever complaining or showing signs of weariness.
-St. Vincent de Paul

When we choose death we are told that we are being courageous, we are being manipulated into thinking that we are being kind and merciful… but we are not God, and by becoming partakers in these schemes that are all born from the culture of death, we are putting ourselves  and our loved ones in grave danger of missing out on God’s mercy and in the end, we may wind up suffering an eternity of hell after death. Which by the way, will be much worse than anything we will face on earth.

‘Who of us can live with the consuming fire? Who of us can live with the everlasting flames?’ Isiah 33:14

This lie has come to be defined by many as mercy killing or dying with dignity, as if somehow wanting to abandon our crosses is being dignified. The devil is so clever that he has been able to promote the idea of suicide or assisted suicide as a dignified act. It has gotten so bad that many good people… even good Christian people, see nothing wrong with the idea of ending someone’s life if there is pain… if there is suffering.

It is ironic that so much of the Christian message is that we are called to pick up our crosses and follow Christ. That we are all called to bear suffering for the conversion of sinners….that we are to abandon ourselves to the Will of God. But then as soon as we face a tragic situation…one that involves immense pain and suffering…we abandon those very teachings. We make excuses and we jump ship. There is a perilous storm raging between what is good and what is evil. We cannot abandon God’s Will because it makes us feel uncomfortable.

‘And thou shalt be left stripped of thy inheritance, which I gave thee: and I will make thee serve thy enemies in a land which thou knowest not: because thou hast kindled a fire in my wrath, it shall burn for ever. Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.’ Jeremiah 17:4-5

How many times do we hear of a person being referred to as being a vegetable…or that ‘so and so’ is in a vegetative state…or that their quality of life is so diminished that we should not even afford them the necessary food and water they require as minimal true compassionate care. Really! Have we fallen so far that we actual believe living breathing humans are the same as vegetables?! We should never allow ourselves to use these terms when referring to those with brain damage or disability…it is very dehumanizing to our brothers and sisters in pain. By the way, starvation is an agonizing means of achieving death. Death by dehydration is even worse. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But of course, now a days, many hospice centers are just covert death mills…with a steady drip of morphine to ‘alleviate the pain‘… Many of these centers are operating under the guise of compassionate care, and they are more than willing to make your death a reality…whether you want to die or not….

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 “Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep appreciation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul.”
-from the writings of Saint Rose of Lima

As Christians, as Catholics, we must pray to stop this mentality among our families. So many people say they would want to die instead of lingering on in pain, but the reality of it is, that most people just don’t want to be a burden. This lie has been drilled into our heads by clever conductors. We have been told that by being incapacitated in some way that would require our families to take care of us, would mean that we have become a burden. We have been told that we should spare our families the troubles… There is no charity in that. There is no love in that. Ultimately, there is no God in that. We have been deceived into thinking that we should just end it all… without the benefit of redemptive suffering. Without the benefit of  the unimaginable graces that God has for all of us who offer our suffering to Him…

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We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God.
-Saint Vincent de Paul

The bottom line to all of this, is the taking away of life… the taking away of the trust that we owe to God. Even if we are faced with a way of life that would have us bedridden…in need of constant care…we…as humans…don’t have the right to take away what is only for God to decide. Regardless of man’s laws…we do not have the right to take away life. Period.

At a time in our lives when we should be praying to God for guidance, while clinging to our sufferings as a means to save us… as a means of sanctification… most of us lose hope. Most of us forget the bigger picture. Most of us just want an easy out. But their is no easy out, end of life decisions are a painful truth that we all will face. But by compromising our morality we stand to lose so much more. It is a difficult journey. One we will not be able to take alone. It is a journey that can only be trod with the hand of God to guide us… We must pray and unite our wills to the Lord. And we must endure and know that God will never leave us on our own. We must not allow our hearts to be manipulated by the lies of the evil one who knows that there is much to be lost… Blessings that would otherwise be gained, by the Christian faithful, if only they would accept their sufferings… their burdens and their crosses … with humility…with charity and with grace.

 

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PRAYER IN TIME OF SUFFERING
Behold me, my beloved Jesus, weighed down
under the burden of my trials and sufferings. I cast
myself at Your feet that You may renew my
strength and my courage while I rest here in Your
presence. Permit me to lay down my cross in Your
Sacred Heart, for only Your infinite goodness can
sustain me, only Your love can help me bear my
cross, only Your powerful hand can lighten its
weight. O Divine King, Jesus, whose heart is so
compassionate to the afflicted, I wish to live in
You, suffer and die in You. During my life, be to
me my model and my support. At the hour of my
death,
be my hope and my refuge. Amen.
© 2006 Holy Reflections
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Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Posted on February 27, 2018 by mikatsa6

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 Devotion to St. Gabriel of
Our Lady of Sorrows, Patron of Youth

The faithful, who devoutly recite Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, adding the invocation, “Saint Gabriel, pray for me,” before a representation of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, may gain an Indulgence of 300 days.

(From the 1943 Raccolta)

St. Gabriel OLOS

In the Tradition of the Holy Mother Church, today we celebrate the life of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. He was born March 1st, 1838, and was the eleventh of thirteen children. His given name was Francis Possenti. When he was only about five years old, his family moved to Spoleto so that the children would be able to get a better education, but unfortunately, shortly after the family moved, his mother died.

His father  who was already a religious man, depended more and more on his Faith when raising his children. He made sure to pray for at least an hour every morning and then took all of the children with him to Mass. Every night before his children were sent to bed, he questioned them as to what they had learned and what they had done that day. He made sure that all of his children prayed and more importantly, he made sure that his children did not get caught up with the bad crowd.

Francis received his education from the Brothers of St. John the Baptist de la Salle, and then continued his studies at the college of the Society of Jesus at Spoleto. As a youth, Francis showed self control and a generous nature. He also was obedient and docile. His heart was full of love for spiritual things. But like most boys, he also was impulsive and sometimes inclined towards anger. But even when he allowed his bad temper to lead him into occasions of sin, he was full of repentance and sought to change this vice of his, seeking God’s forgiveness.

As he grew he advanced in his studies, making good progress. Due to his agreeable nature and his joyful attitude, he had many friends and was commonly called “the genial Francis” by those who knew him. This flattery and attention fed his ego and his vanity, causing him to seek the acceptance of man rather than God. He grew to love things of the world. Mostly innocent in nature, he developed a love for reading novels, hunting and going to theaters to see the latest shows. And even though none of these things are considered bad, they did have a negative affect on the young Francis….they distracted him from what God wanted him to do.

While he was still young he contracted tuberculosis and fell very ill. While still suffering in the sick bed, he promised the Lord that he would devote his life to Him if he were healed, but like most promises made when one is sick…he changed his mind as soon as his body was well again. A second time he became violently ill with a throat malady … again he prayed and again he was healed. Once again turning his back on the promise he made if he were cured.

Then one day when he was out hunting, he was severely wounded. As he was recuperating in bed, his closest sister died suddenly. his heart was broke. and it was then that he remembered the broken promises he had made to his Heavenly Father. As he mourned the loss of his sister, and continued to recover from his own wounds, he told his family about his promise to God. His father, not believing that his son was called to the cloistered life, tried to dissuade him. He encouraged him to go to the theater and carry on with the things of the world. He even suggested to his son, that he should marry the daughter of a predominant family in town.  Francis agreed, and the preparations for the  wedding were begun… But, the Blessed Mother, who already held a place of honor in the young man’s heart, came to collect Francis for his true calling....

On the octave of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, there was a solemn procession from the Cathedral of Spoleto which continued through the roads of the town. A highly venerated image of the Blessed Mother was carried high above the procession. As the image was carried passed Francis, it seemed to the young lad, that the Blessed Mother looked sharply at him, while an interior voice spoke to him. The voice said, ” You know that you are not made for the world. Why, then do you still remain in it? Enter soon into some Religious Order.”

At this, Francis was overcome with emotion. He had indeed felt ‘a calling’ his whole life, but due to his attachment to the things of the world, he had been hiding from his true vocation. When he heard the words of the Blessed Mother, he knew it was to be. His heart and soul were on fire… and overcome, he ran into the church and hid, trying to conceal his tears and his excitement. Later, when he revealed to his confessor what had happened, his confessor approved of the genuine nature of his vocation and agreed that he should join the Passionists.

saint gabriel of our lady of sorrows

 

O God, You taught blessed Gabriel to meditate constantly on the sorrows of Your most sweet Mother, and You exalted him by glorious virtues and miracles. Through his prayers and example may we share the sorrows of Your Mother and come to eternal life under Her motherly care; who lives and rules with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

 

 

On the feast of the Mother of Sorrows, which is the third Sunday in September, he was given the habit of the Order, and given the name of Gabriel of the Mother of Sorrows. Afterwards, he wrote to his friends and apologized for not being a better example to them. His separation from his love of the things of the world was now complete… his heart now longed only for the Lord and the Blessed Mother. He no longer sought after empty satisfactions that he once sought after. Once he allowed God to penetrate his heart, he realized that true happiness could only be found by uniting himself to the Lord.

Saint Gabriel had a way with the young boys and his friendliness made him much sought after among the boys in the town. Saint Gabriel was a shining example as to how the Lord can move us to become the best that we can be. He used every opportunity to talk with the boys of some pious exhortation. He used every chance to bring the young boys closer to God. As Gabriel neared the end of his studies, he was stricken with consumption. And when he was only twenty three years old he died in Isola, on February 27, 1862. His last words were to the Blessed Mother.

Immediately after his death, miracles begin occurring at his tomb. Many people who were deaf, blind, lamb or unable to speak were healed. It is quite rare that so many miracles occur in such great succession, and so shortly after the death of a saint, that at his beatification, which took place on May 31, 1908, it was declared that “the miracles which glorified the beginnings of the Church, one could behold renewed at his grave.” 

michaelpossenti

His brother Michael Possenti, who was 87 years old at the time, was present at his beatification and laid a white rose at the feet of the statue that represented his saintly brother, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. It is quite remarkable that it happened the way it did. There is a photo of the event. It combines the Church Triumphant with the Church Militant here on earth. To have been able to witness the canonization must have been a truly special occasion for all the family members involved. Since his death, the miracles surrounding this Saint have not ceased. He is recognized as a mighty protector of the youth, particularly in a time when their faith and morals are being exposed to such great dangers.

This picture also represents to us a vital truth that still holds true today. The Holy Church is still our Mother… She still seeks out those to serve Her… to love Her with a heart that is pure and holy. She is still calling us to live our lives in a heroic manner which exhibit our Christian virtues. And She still is coming to the aide of those who dedicate themselves to Her cause…with it’s sole purpose of uniting us in a closer union with the Almighty Lord, so that one day we may join with God and His elect…and be with Him in Heaven.

As I was researching this great an holy saint I found a bit about him that is particularly relevant for this day and age. It tells the story of the young Saint Gabriel and how he saved an entire village from a group of terrorists who had come kill all the people of the town. When he witnessed the marauders dragging off a young woman who they intended to rape, the young Saint had had enough, and even though he was unarmed, he ran out to confront them. Grabbing a pistol from one of the invaders, he managed to take control of the situation and save the entire town. Read the rest of the remarkable story here.

st gabriel and our lady of sorrows[7]

“Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I offer you my heart and soul. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul with you in peace.” – Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows.

 

 

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Praying for the Peace of God

Posted on February 24, 2018 by mikatsa6

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With the recent rumblings of violence in the world, it is beginning to seem that not a day goes by, in which we are not faced with an endless barrage of news stories coming at us from all corners of the globe, all with an abruptness that causes the quietness of our souls to flee… Then, With our  calmness and serenity shattered... we are left, with the peace of our hearts  corrupted by the nagging voice of doubt and chaos…

How are we to cope with such an un-tamable giant? We are well aware of the fact that anxiety is a monster of a force, with a grip of fingers that can cause even the most stout among us to choke… strangle on our fear….gasping for our breath...trying to remain calm instead of panic. It is almost as if we should die right on the spot,  from our smothering fear…Sometimes…even with all of our conditioning…all of our spiritual preparations…we forget ourselves, and allow our hearts and minds to be sucked into the rumblings and the trappings of a world gone mad. It is a slippery slope to navigate. As Christians how are we supposed to deal with these times when it seems that God has closed up shop and taken all His quiet and calm with Him. What, just what are we supposed to do? Well, in the Bible we find:

“Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice.” Isaiah 41:10

There you have it, do not fear. It’s quite easier said than done. For this, we must rely entirely on God. Actually, we must rely on Him, for everything. If we go back in the Church history and look at the saints and their lives. We would find that many of them bore great sufferings and many struggled with the same feelings of anxiety that we deal with today. Many others struggled with the same fears that plague us now… It was not until they conformed their lives to the Will of the One Who made them that they were able to become the saints that the Lord intended.

We must remember that God has created each of us as unique individuals…each of us from His own hands… We are created in His likeness and image…we are all destined for great things… but only if we follow Him… and allow ourselves to be filled with His love, and moved by His Spirit… This will only happen  if we allow ourselves to be guided by the very Words of Christ….

With so much talk about doomsday survival and SHTF scenarios, we as Christians don’t have to look far for a plan of keeping our heads about us when everyone else is losing theirs to fear and chaos. God has provided for us everything we need to remain calm in Him. We have the Holy Bible…His Sacred Words… the Inspirational whisperings of a loving Father… But we also have His bold instructions that command us to be strong….Words that we can literally pull our strength from.  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”– Joshua 1:9

So if the world ever comes crashing down around you…or if  the world seems to crumble beneath you….crumble beneath the very feet you’re standing on…. hold fast to God…hold fast to your Faith…. and fall to your knees in prayer. Prayer builds us up. It holds us up, when we can’t find the courage to go on. It will be your strength until you regain your own. It will help you sort out the dark from the light and bring serenity to your heart again. When the world is shaking beneath you, it will help you regain your balance. But most importantly…. prayer will help you regain your hope.

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
 Deuteromony 31:6

 

While the rest of the world is screaming of the great apocalypse or ringing with fears of the ‘Big One’ that will divide us right down the middle…. we need to remember that even if it does occur, even if we are left with rubble all around…our towns and homes collapsed, our belongings all gone… We should not give into the monster of anxiety that will be there to devour our soul…Even then….We must not allow ourselves to fall under the influence of the trappings of the devil….He will destroy our souls if we let him…We must be strong… we must pray… pray… and pray. Then, we must trust in the Lord, allowing  His courage to fill us, so that we can face whatever comes next. Because whatever happens, and whether we want to admit it or not…there are much worse things for us than death.

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

 

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A POWERFUL NINE HOURS — The Domestic Church of Bosco

Posted on February 23, 2018 by mikatsa6

I found this Powerful Nine Hours to be quite inspiring, particularly when it seems that the very world we live in is in a swirl of chaos and sickness and borderline despair. People these days are in real need of a life line…something that can give them healing… something that can give them hope…. It seems almost everyone I know is in need of prayers. This blog post suggests a sort of remedy in what really seems like a powerhouse of a prayers. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did:

Several very sick children, aging and ailing parents, friends with cancer…what do these things have in common? Heartache? Suffering? Certainly; but what they meant to us today as we gathered to Encounter Christ together, were an invitation to go to battle in the spiritual realm; to pray and invite God into the place where are […]

via A POWERFUL NINE HOURS — The Domestic Church of Bosco

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Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

Posted on February 22, 2018 by mikatsa6

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Every year in the Traditional calendar of the Holy Mother Church, February 22nd is celebrated as the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. And contrary to what it sounds like, it is not a feast celebrating an actual piece of furniture. It is a feast that celebrates the authority that was given to Peter…handed over to him by Jesus Christ, Himself. It is a celebration to recognize the continuation of  the authority of the Pope, beginning with Saint Peter. The Pope is the visible sign of Christ on earth, called the Vicar of Christ, which means earthly sign of Christ on earth. The Pope in Rome, is for us Catholics, a continuation of the role that Jesus Christ was in the Holy Mother Church. It is a role that has been passed down through the centuries, and has remained an unbroken line all the way back to Christ. Then when Christ realized His time was drawing to an end, He appointed Peter as the ‘Rock’ of His Church…the Catholic Church. The use of the term ‘chair’ in the feast day comes from the Latin term ‘cathedra‘ which means seat of government.

On the 22nd of February, the universal Catholic Church acknowledges that Saint Peter was the first pope…the foundation...the rock... that the Church would be built upon, and that the mission of the pope continues through this day. The Holy Father has an important role. He is to care for the people of God, in ways that are in union with the history of the Church and Her Traditions. There are rituals, teachings and Truths of the Church that were given to the Faithful from Jesus, things that cannot be changed. It is an important role, one that should not be handled in an off the cuff manner. The Pope should reflect not only a human side, but he should remain firm in his adherence to the teachings of the Christ that have been handed down throughout the 2,000 years of our Church Tradition and history.

In the Gospel of Matthew, when Peter recognized that Jesus Christ was in fact the long awaited for Messiah, Jesus said to him:

“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Pope Benedict XVI explains the significance of the feast for the Church in his homily from Feb. 22, 2006:

“This is a very ancient tradition, proven to have existed in Rome since the fourth century. On it we five thanks to god for the mission he entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors.

‘Cathedra’ literally means the established seat of the bishop, placed in the mother church of a diocese which for this reason is known as a ‘cathedral’: it is a symbol of the bishop’s authority and in particular, of his ‘magisterium’, that is, the evangelical teaching which, as a successor of the Apostles, he is called to safeguard and to transmit to the Christian Community…

The See of Rome, after St. Peter’s travels, thus came to be recognized as the See of the Successor of Peter, and its Bishop’s ‘cathedra’ represented the mission entrusted to him by Christ to tend His entire flock.”

chair of st peter

Saint Peter, the ‘rock’ that was chosen by Jesus as the foundation for His Church…the  Holy Catholic Church.

So remember, any time you may be tempted to think that the Church is failing that the Church is not going to survive the next round of attacks from the evil one, remember this; Jesus told Peter that “the gates of the Netherworld would never prevail against it.” We must not lose hope. In fact, it is precisely moments like these that we should cling to that hope…cling to those Words of Jesus..that promise made to Peter all those years ago…that He would never abandon us…never abandon His Holy Catholic Church.

Let us pray.

O God, in entrusting the keys of your heavenly kingdom to your blessed Apostle Peter, you gave him the power to bind and to loose; by the help of his intercession may we be set free from the bonds of our sins. You who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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There is an All Out Assault Being Waged Against Our Children

Posted on February 21, 2018 by mikatsa6

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As we make our way through this season of Lent we have been reminded in a much too familiar way of the evilness that thrives in our world…We have been reminded that there is in fact a battle being raged for the souls of our children...Conspiracy theories or not, we have come to the ugly reality that there is evil in the world…It has long ago arrived, and it is coming to steal the lives of our loved ones…coming to steal the lives of our families and children.

With ashes still fresh on our foreheads, we watched as the carnage unfolded… and when all the commotion settled down, seventeen people had lost their lives. There are many details that remain unclear, and there are many unusual circumstances surrounding the way the events played out. We may never know the reasons behind the shooting that happened last week, but we do know that at the end of the day seventeen people were dead … We may never know who actually pulled the trigger, or if there was in fact more than one shooter, but what we do know, is that the devil, in his clever devise, released his toxic breath upon the people of Parkland Florida… and then using our immersion in the culture of death against us, once again, he destroyed what rightly belongs to God.

There is more than one dimension to the lies, for as if on cue, the major news outlets started spewing the same mantra that they always do, aiding to the division, stirring the pot of chaos… Almost immediately, those who care nothing for our safety or the safety of our children started calling for stricter gun laws…demanding that ‘something be done...’ We all know what that phrase means…they would like to see the rights of Americans to protect themselves ripped from the Constitutional pages of this great land…  As if somehow that would put an end to the violence… as if somehow that would stop the monsters that are waiting to devour our children. Eating them from the inside out. But it won’t.

Our society as a whole is suffering. We have removed God from every aspect of our lives. We have been raising our children in godless homes where there is no right or wrong … And when it comes to our behavior, we have been teaching them to embrace the lies of the devil … we’ve created an anything goes kind of society. We have abandoned the Truth and our sense of morality. We have replaced our moral compass with one that  changes with the winds of time and then act as if we are shocked  and dismayed at the resulting carnage.

We have turned away from the Truth that Christ taught us about God, and about His laws for how we are to live, specifically how we are to treat one another.  His laws are the very foundations that this country was built upon... But we are fallen. We have twisted the reality of God and the devil and unfortunately by denying the Truth of their existence, we have robbed our children of their innocence in more ways than one. In a way we have given our children over to the devil and his plan. These killing fields show us that he desires their souls and he has come to claim them as his own…The war has been raged and it will be a battle in the spiritual realm… “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but ….against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”(Ephesians6:12)

Unfortunately, when this kind of violence erupts, it is the same outcries over and over. Everyone claims they want an answer…everyone claims they want all this senseless killing to end…and yet, the solutions they provide are not solutions at all. The vast majority of these people refuse to acknowledge that this is not a problem of guns….Sure, guns are a part of it…but from what I have seen of all of these killers….is their fascination with violence. Even this young man’s social media accounts… were rift with all kinds of violence.

Like all of the others who have done these horrible killings, he was a sick young man with a twisted fascination with the culture of death… His language…his posts, all show a deep lack of human decency and respect. His social media posts seemed to boast of his anger and his hatred, and even though many people looked at his posts and commented on what he said, they failed to see the evil that was on public display… and many did nothing about it. But even when someone did alert the authorities, they dropped the ball and didn’t even check him out. It is so bizarre, but unfortunately,  it is a story so familiar in more ways than one...

Our once Christian nation  now brags of her evil ways…and the laws that had been put in place as a safe guard for the people, have been changed. These laws now fail to protect the most vulnerable among us…the unborn, the infirm…and the elderly. There are people being killed every day across this great nation. Most of these murders are promoted under the guise of care and compassion. These murders now enjoy a special protection from a court system that regrettably has fallen under the grasp of diabolical men. Men who promote abortion and euthanasia as ways of dealing with the unwanted…the outcast….

This culture of death, is like diseased flesh…and it is spreading. Our young people are being raised with no sense of sanctity for human life…The sacredness of the human soul does not matter to those who regulate and pass our laws… and this same lack of sacredness is being passed into the broken homes and the broken children who are being raised there. In our pride of being able to control ourselves without the laws of God, our society has managed to slide down into the land where decency has lost the upper edge and morals and values are in quick decay. We don’t want to judge anyone..but that doesn’t mean that we must sit by and watch the wrong being done without doing something…without praying against this evil that is everywhere…

Well, I just had to voice my two cents. This is going to be a tough battle for us all. Our freedoms depend on it. In essence, our lives depend on it. New gun laws won’t protect our children. New gun laws won’t keep us safe. As a nation, we need to repent and return to God what is rightly His. And we need to start recognizing that evil is real. That the devil is real. And he’s coming for our children. With or without guns.

One more thing, when we talk about sending our prayers and our thoughts to the victims…well, our thoughts won’t do anything for them, unless they prompt us into some sort of action. Prayers on the other hand, can do so much more! But first, we must turn away from whatever separates us from God, then with a humble and contrite heart we should fall on our knees before the Lord… seeking His mercy and trusting in His Ways…Carrying our burdens before Him…carrying these families and these victims to Him, praying for their burdens to be lifted…praying for His consolation to wash over them and bring them comfort. Let us also pray that one day our country…this great nation of our will once again humble itself before the Lord seeking forgiveness for our past transgressions and seeking His Light in all of our days. And contrary to what the news media is saying…our prayers will help…our prayers will bring healing…. we just have to believe and trust in God again.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron. 7:14

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He choose for His inheritance.” Ps. 33:12

 

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Stations of the Cross During Lent

Posted on February 16, 2018 by mikatsa6

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As we get a good foothold in these Lenten days, we are beginning to understand that these days have been set aside by the Holy Mother Church as a time for  conversion, as a time to make amends. It is a period of days set apart from the ordinary, so as to give us a chance to leave the hustle of the world outside and step into the quite of the Church…to focus on our return to God. It is  a time to step into the quite embrace of Our Lord.

Lent and all the practices contained therein are an opportunity for us to be transformed as we are transported to the Lord’s suffering and Passion. It is a humbling experience as we reflect on the nature of sin… on the nature of our sin. There is perhaps no better way to immerse ourselves in the reality of Christ’s sacrifice than to take part in the ‘Stations of the Cross’ or ‘The Way of the Cross.’

As early as the 4th century, Christians were making pilgrimages to the Holy Land so they could walk the path that Our Blessed Lord walked as He made His way to Golgotha… as He made His Way for our salvation. But when Jerusalem fell into the hands of Muslims, to make this journey became very dangerous and then when people moved away to foreign lands they developed replicas of these “stations,” so they could pray the devotion without having to travel to the Holy Land. This devotion was referred to as either ‘Stations of the Cross’ or the ‘Way of the Cross.’

Since Lent is a time for prayer and conversion, the Church has said that anyone who practices this devotion on the Fridays of Lent can receive a plenary indulgence, as long as certain conditions are met. This means that the faithful should strive to worthily receive Holy Communion, as well as participate in the Stations of the Cross. This can be done with the community or it may be done privately at home. But one must say prayers and meditate upon each of the fourteen stations. Another condition for the indulgence is confession. You must go to confession within 20 days of praying the Stations of the Cross. These plenary indulgences remit all temporal punishment due to personal sin. But just as a side note, if there is any attachment to sin...even if it is just venial, the indulgence will just be a partial one. Regardless, it is an awesome opportunity for the Faithful to make amends and convert our hearts back to the Lord.

Making the Way of the Cross

When the Way of the Cross is made in a group. The people begin with the Sign of the Cross, and an Act of Contrition, or a similar prayer of repentance for our sins. It is also recommended that the faithful make a spiritual intention of asking God for His Mercy so as to receive the indulgence. At each station:

  • the leader announces the name of the station.
  • the leader says: “We adore Thee O Christ and we praise Thee”
  • as they genuflect, the faithful respond “Because by Thy Holy Cross, Thou has redeemed the world.”
  • the leader reads a meditation on each Station, the Faithful should be silently  thanking God for His sacrifice, and uniting themselves to His suffering
  • all pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Glory Be
  • traditionally the hymn Stabat Mater is sung between stations.

Stations of Our Lord's Cross

The fourteen Stations of the Cross are:

Jesus is Condemned to Die
Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross
Jesus Falls the First Time
Jesus Meets His Mother
Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face
Jesus Falls the Second Time
Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Jesus Falls the Third Time
Jesus is Stripped
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Jesus Dies on the Cross
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

 

 

 

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