Fecundity of devotion!

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; 

take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you

since the creation of the world. - Matthew 25: 34

...Let us ask our Lord then to make us souls devoted

to the Blessed Eucharist, so that our relationship

with Him brings forth joy and serenity and a desire

for justice. In this way we will make it easier for

others to recognize Christ; we will put Christ

at the centre of all human activities."

St Josemaria Escriva

Quote to honor today's Feast ...

Fr Magallanes wrote and preached against armed rebellion, but was falsely accused of promoting the Cristero Rebellion in the area. He established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. Magallanes and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-1928). Arrested on May 21, 1927, while en route to celebrate Mass at a farm, he gave away his few remaining possessions to his executioners, gave them absolution, and without a trial, he was martyred four days later.  

Mateo Correa was shot when he refused to break the seal of the confessional.  Jose Maria Robles was arrested when he was overheard agreeing to officiate a wedding.  Julio Alvares Mendoza was captured on his way to say Mass.  Before he was shot, Mendoza told his executioners, "My crime is to be a minister of God.  I pardon you."

St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions*

Mexico ~ 1915-1937

*22 priests/3 layman

Memorialized in movie, For Greater Glory

FEAST DAY ~ MAY 21

Click here: St. Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions - YouTube (2 mins)

When imprisoned by the government authorities, St Christopher 

was heard to shout from his cell: "I am innocent and I die innocent.

I forgive the authors of my death from my heart, and I ask God

that my blood would serve to bring peace to divided Mexicans".

 St Christopher and Companions, pray for us!

During his homily at the canonization Mass on May 21, 2000, Saint John Paul II addressed the Mexican men, women and children present in Rome and said: “After the harsh trials that the Church endured in Mexico during those turbulent years, today Mexican Christians, encouraged by the witness of these witnesses to the faith, can live in peace and harmony, contributing the wealth of gospel values to society. The Church grows and advances, since she is the crucible in which many priestly and religious vocations are born, where families are formed according to God's plan, and where young people, a substantial part of the Mexican population, can grow with the hope of a better future. May the shining example of Cristóbal Magallanes and his companion martyrs help you to make a renewed commitment of fidelity to God, which can continue to transform Mexican society so that justice, fraternity and harmony will prevail among all.”

Parting Gift par excellence

"The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining splendor of that name causes His Word to be proclaimed and heard.  And how do you think such an immense, sudden and dazzling light of faith came into the world, if not because Jesus was preached?" - St Bernardine of Siena

 

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore delivers the homily ~ June 2012 ~ Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption 

of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland ~ USA (CNS/Catholic Review/Tom McCarthy Jr.)

 

"But what hast Thou, O my Jesus, left us,

when quitting this world, in memory of Thy love? 

 

Not, indeed, a garment or a ring, but

Thine own body, Thy blood,

Thy soul, Thy divinity,

Thy whole self, without reserve." 

 

 

St Bernardine of Siena

Franciscan friar, itinerant preacher, theological writer

Italy ~ 1380-1444

Orphaned young

Known as "Apostle of Italy"

for efforts to revive faith in 15th century 

FEAST DAY - May 20

 

 

Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus,

Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters

of the name of Jesus in Greek, in Gothic letters on a blazing sun.

 

 

 

"Jesus, Name full of glory, grace, love and strength! You are the refuge of those who repent, our banner of warfare in this life, the medicine of souls, the comfort of those who morn, the delight of those who believe, the light of those who preach the true faith, the wages of those who toil, the healing of the sick. To You our devotion aspires; by You our prayers are received; we delight in contemplating You. O Name of Jesus, You are the glory of all the saints for eternity. Amen." ~ St Bernardine

 

Click here: Discovering our Saints - St. Bernardine of Siena - YouTube

Click here: St. Bernardine of Siena - YouTube (2 mins)

Catholic Culture Library: St. Bernardino Fostered Holy Name Devotion

St Bernardine, pray for us!

Day and night: in our midst

"For a church is not a barber's shop or a chemist's or a market stall: 

it is the dwelling of angels and of archangels; it the kingdom of God;

it is heaven itself." - St John Chrysostom

"On entering the church, a man must leave behind any authority he has over other men, for before God no man has any authority. Again, the cares and anxieties which a man has in regard to his home, family and business or work are good, but they should be left at the door of the church, except when he wants to speak to God about them."

St Louis of Granada

“What joy ought not we men to conceive, what hopes and what affections, in knowing that in the midst of our land, in our churches, near our houses, the Holy of holies, the true God, dwells and lives in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar! He who by His presence alone renders the saints in heaven blessed! He who is love itself.”

St Alphonsus Ligouri

Highest voice of the heart...

 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints,

to those who turn to Him in their hearts. - Psalm 85:8

 

"Hail, sacred tabernacles! … Oh, I love Your temple!  It is an island of peace in the ocean of the world. ...

Is there a tongue equal to the ecstasy of the heart?   Whatever my lips may say, this blood that circulates in me, this breast that breathes in You, this heart that beats and swells, these tear-bathed eyes, this still silence - all of these pray within me. 

Just as the waves swell at the rising of the King of day, the stars revolve, mute with reverence and love, and You understand their silent hymn, so, Lord, in the same way, understand me; hear what I say without speaking.  Silence is the highest voice of a heart that is overcome with Your glory!"

St Paul of the Cross

Forged in the heart thru Adoration

"Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring." 

St. Catherine of Siena

 

Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters - Mount Grace Convent ~ St Louis, Missouri ~ USA

"John Paul was simply consistent.

He never deceived, he never lied, he was never evasive.

John Paul communicated with his people, with the coherence

of a man of God, with the consistency of someone who spent

long hours in Adoration each morning, and as he adored

he allowed himself to come into harmony with the power of God.

Consistency is forged in the heart through adoration."

Pope Francis, homily delivered as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, 

on the occasion of St John Paul II’s death in 2005

 

ORDAINED to the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ TODAY*

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Oh, day of Love Divine, all loves excelling!

An Old German saying:

It is worth wearing out a pair of shoes to walk

to receive a priest's First Blessing!

 

Rev Mr John Gibson ~ Archdiocese of Milwaukee (Wisconsin)

Rev Mr Nathaniel Miniatt ~ Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist ~ 10:30 am

 

Rev Mr Andrew Vill ~ Archdiocese of Bridgeport (Connecticut) 

Rev Mr Robert Wolfe ~ Archdiocese of Bridgeport

Rev Mr Christopher Perrella ~ Archdiocese of Bridgeport

St Augustine Cathedral 

 

Let us hold them in prayer and offer thanksgiving for their 'YES'!

 

“The greatest glory of God on earth is a good priest,
for a good priest is a monstrance for Christ.” ~ Fr Gerald Fitzgerald, s.P.