Blog Post 5/31/2023 - Marian Prayer to Close Out the Month of May

 

Marian Prayer to Close Out the Month of May

 

“We take refuge in your mercy, Mother of God.  Do not disregard our prayers in troubling times, but deliver us from dangers, O only pure one, only blessed one.”  [Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Brant Pitre , Anonymous Christian Prayer, p.182.

 

As we depart May let us commit to continue to ask Mary to intercede for us as we pray the Memorare.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known

that any one who fled to your protection,

implored your help or sought your intercession,

was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,

I fly unto you,

O virgin of virgins my mother;

to you do I come,

before you I stand,

sinful and sorrowful;

O mother of the word incarnate,

despise not my petitions,

but in your clemency hear and answer me.

Amen.

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 5/30/2023 Prayer to Mary the Undoer of Knots

 

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

 

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exist in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. 

 

You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life.

No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care.

In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone.

 

Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here] I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all.

 

You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains. 

 

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, protect me, O safe refuge!

 

May God Be Praised as the Blessed Mother Praises.

 *

The image of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots by Laura DeMaria

 

Blog Post 5/29/2023 – Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Today we remember and offer prayers, with grateful hearts, to those who gave their lives so we could remain free.

Memorial Day is rooted in the Civil War.  “… John A. Logan, a former Federal general, who called for the first formal day of remembrance on May 30, 1868. School children were asked to spread flower pedals upon the graves of the war dead. Since that time the day has been changed to the last Monday in May and the concept has been expanded to include a remembrance of America's war dead sustained in all Her conflicts.”  [Sermons.com]

This Memorial Day take some time to not only offer God your thanks, but to commit to being a peacemaker.  “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall inherit the earth”.

Our nation and our world need peace makers, please be one.

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 5/28/2023 – Come Holy Spirit - John 14:21–26

Come Holy Spirit - John 14:21–26

 

In our Gospel reading the Holy Spirit’s fundamental sign, is love. The night before he died, Jesus told his friends the deepest truths, He spoke of Himself, his Father, and the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit is the love that connects the Father and the Son. From all eternity, he is breathed back and forth between the Father and the Son, and hence he is nothing but love. When therefore he comes to dwell in you and me, he turns us to the path of love.

 

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father.”

 

 

 

May God Be Praised!

Blog Post 5/27/2023 - A Spiritual Conundrum

 

A Spiritual Conundrum

Fulton J. Sheen said, "God’s delays are mysterious; sorrow is sometimes prolonged for the same reason for which it is sent. God may abstain for the moment from healing, not because Love does not love, but because Love never stops loving, and a greater good is to come from the woe. Heaven’s clock is different from ours."  [Life of Christ, p.357]

 

Maybe this story can  help us, about 500 years before Christ was born a rabbi was teaching 4 or 5 his students just outside their village.  As they looked down on their village, they saw foreign troops invading the village.  They heard the screaming, the yelling and saw the fires.

Finally, the rabbi looked up to heaven and screamed, “If only I were God!”  One of his students asked him, “What would you do differently if you were God.”  The rabbi answered, “I would do nothing differently, but I would understand!”

We don’t understand why there is pain and suffering in the world, but Jesus taught us what to do with our pain and suffering.  Offer it up to God the Father and ask Him to bless it and have good come from it.

 

May God Be Praised.

 

Blog Post 5/26/2023 True Joy

True Joy

 

Take each moment, each action & make it a gift to Our Lord Jesus.

 

To do this you need to base your life on plan on WISDOM:

1. knowledge of self

2. compassion for others

3. friendship with God

 

God will take care of everything else, True Joy is found in being a disciple of Jesus Christ with all you heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.

 

You have the wisdom to find true joy, go ahead and find it.

 

May God Be Praised.

 

Brother Mickey McGrath’s artwork is available at: https://www.bromickeymcgrath.com/

 

Blog Post 5/25/2023 The Eucharist [Aquinas]

The Eucharist [Aquinas]

 

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life."  (St. Thomas Aquinas)

 

 

 

 

Spend some time today in thanksgiving for the Gift of the Eucharist

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 5/24/2023 - Trust in GOD

 

Trust in GOD

 

“Take refuge in God, all you people.  Trust him at all times.”  [Psalm 62]

 

Trust in the Lord continue your leap of Faith into Jesus’ Arms.

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 5/23/2023 – Prayer from Revelation

 Prayer from Revelation

 

“The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light ….”  [Rev. 22]

 

Night will be no more, the Lord God will be the light for all, and they shall reign forever, alleluia.  The throne of the Lamb will be in the holy city, every knee will bend and every person will worship the Lord, and God’s reign shall last forever, alleluia.

 

May God Be Praised.

 

 

Blog Post 5/22/2023 - A Reflection on Easter

 

A Reflection on Easter

“… spiritual health has been restored to the human race. Death entered the world through Adam … but life has been given back to the world through Christ … the Easter festival brings the grace of holiness from heaven to [us] … this is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

And what is this day?  It is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the author of light, who brings the sunrise and the beginning of life, saying of himself: I am the light of day; whoever walks in daylight does not stumble…. whoever follows Christ in all things will come by this path to the throne of eternal light.”  [Homily from an Ancient Author [O.R. 4/12/2023]

We hope in you, Lord.  You are our hope, and our hope is not in vain.  As we continue our Easter Celebration, let each one of us take a few moments to ponder the Lord’s great love.

May God Be Praised.

 

 

Blog Post 5/21/2023 Homily Cycle A - 5/21/2023 A Little Good News

 

 

 

Homily Cycle A - 5/21/2023 A Little Good News

Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052123-Sunday.cfm

 

In 1983 Anne Murray released a hit record “A Little Good News”, the song enumerated many of the troubles of that era: war, economic woes, murders, robberies, fires, etc.  But one of the verses begged for some hope, “We sure could use a little good news today.”

Have you ever felt like that?  We face many of those problems, and a host of others.

We, too, want A Little Good News Today.

 

You are here today for “Good News” and to be fed with the “Bread of Life”, to be nourished on God’s Word and God’s Eucharist.  Listen to this vignette, “Making Anyone Laugh”.  One of America’s great humorist, Will Rogers could make anyone laugh.  President Calvin Coolidge had the reputation of never laughing.

 

Rogers was invited to visit the White House and … the president's assistant brought Rogers into the Oval Office and said, "President Coolidge, this is Will Rogers.”  Then turning to Mr. Rogers said, “this is President Coolidge."  The quick-witted Will Rogers leaned forward & said, "I'm sorry. I didn't catch the name."   

 

 

President Coolidge cracked up and started laughing.  Some people are quick in sports, some quick intellectually, some with music, with a verbal comebacks or retorts, others quick with the right thing to say. [Adopted from Sermons.com]

 

Jesus said the right thing in today’s Gospel, [Good News], “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”         In our Responsorial Psalm we prayed, that we would dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and that we would see the Lord in the land of the living. 

 

One might say that this Psalm 27, has Good News that each of us seeks, hope that in the end we will be with the Lord.  In the Gospel, as you know, Jesus prays that one day we will be with Him in heaven, in the “land of the living.”

 

In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles we learned that Mary, the Apostles and some of the other followers of Jesus devoted themselves to prayer.  That is an important lesson for us, to make prayer the center of our lives.

 

Listen to this story about a Toddler who wouldn’t stop sucking his thumb.  His Mom and Dad were at the end of their rope, they tried many different things: a new tricycle, new puzzle, no dessert and no tv before bed; nothing worked. 

Finally, in desperation Mom said if you don’t stop sucking your thumb you stomach is going to blow up.  It worked, a few days later they were food shopping and the toddler saw a woman who was 8 & ½ months pregnant.  He stared and stared at her, finally the woman said to him, young man, “Do I know you?”  He replied, “No Mam, I don’t know you, But I know what you been doing.!”

 

Sometimes it is difficult to change our habits, the way we usually do things.  Today’s Scripture Readings Challenge us to look at what we do, why we do it and make sure what we do is for God.  We are on this earth to Live the Gospel Message!

 

Mary and the Apostles learned for Jesus that prayer was essential and needed to be central to their lives, it is the same for us.  Maybe this story, called “Last prayers” can help us get prayer central in our lives.  Late morning is Amelia’s favorite time of the day.  The Hospice volunteers have helped her get washed and dressed, finished her breakfast.

 

The volunteers move Amelia to her sun room where she is at peace.  She fingers her rosary while looking at the photographs of her children, and grandchildren covering her table.

These photographs are her real prayer beads as she prays for each one individually, for their needs and happiness.  “Hold them all, O Lord, in Your hands …. Bless them as you have blessed my husband and me these many years.”  [Adopted for Table Talk, Cycle A, p.106-107]

 

Today’s Gospel is part of what is known as the high priestly prayer, Jesus prays for the Church, He prays for you and for me.  Amelia prayed for her family, and may we learn for her, that prayer should be central in our lives.  “We sure could use a little good news today.”  Fortunately, no matter how heavy our crosses or how troubling the world around us is, Jesus promised, “I am always with you until the end of time.”

 

For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on the place of prayer in your life.

 

May God Be Praised.

 

Blog Post 5/20/2023 – On Prayer

 

On Prayer

 

“Prayer brings our mind into the brightness of divine light and exposes our will to the warmth of divine love. Nothing else can so purge our mind from its ignorance, and our will from its depraved affections.

It is a blessed fountain which, as it flows, revives our good desires and causes them to bring forth fruit, washes away the stains of infirmity from our soul, and calms the passions of our hearts.”  [St. Francis de Sales, An Introduction to the Devout Life, p. 61]

 

 

Prayer time can be anytime of the day or night, but whenever it is we need to be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Ideally prayer time is 24/7.

 

May God Be Praised.

 

 

Brother Mickey McGrath’s artwork is available at: https://www.bromickeymcgrath.com/

Homily 5/19/2023 - Ascension Thursday - “Making Anyone Laugh”

 

Ascension Thursday - “Making Anyone Laugh”  [Offered at Country Meadows, Bethlehem, Pa]

 

The great American humorist, Will Rogers, had the reputation that he could make anyone laugh.  President Calvin Coolidge, on the other hand, had the reputation for never laughing.  Rogers was invited to visit the White House and … the president's assistant brought Rogers into the Oval Office.  Here is what happened? … the assistant said, "President Coolidge, this is Will Rogers.”  

Then said, Mr. Rogers, “this is President Coolidge."  To which Will Rogers leaned forward and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't catch the name.  With that, President Coolidge cracked up and started laughing.  Some people are quick in sports, some quick intellectually, some with music.  Some are quick with a verbal comeback, others quick with the right thing to say.

Jesus’ Words in today's Gospel may be the most profound and comforting, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles we heard, “… [as] they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.  While they were looking intently … suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them."  And said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”

The question for us is why are we doing what we are doing?  Are we doing what God wants us to do?  Matthew teaches us in his Gospel, “… and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  Knowing that Jesus is with us “until the end of the age” gives us the courage to accept His grace and follow His Way and Truth.   

Don’t look up, look straight ahead with confidence because Jesus is the Life, and He is with you.

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 5/18/2023 - The Ascension of the Lord, a reading from The Acts of the Apostles

 

The Ascension of the Lord  - A reading from The Acts of the Apostles [chapter 1]

When they had gathered together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.  While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

In today’s Gospel from Matthew[chapter 28] we read, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Today take a few minutes to reflect on whether you are standing looking up at the sky or reflecting the Lord to the world by your life, knowing the Lord is with you.

 

May God Be Praised.

Blog Post 5/17/2023 - Our Prayer Today

 

Our Prayer Today

 

 

Lord Jesus, grant us Your forgiveness as we confess our guilt to You. Your mercy and forgiveness we seek not as a reward for our supplication, but as pure gift from You.  You who are all loving.

 

Teach us today to be forgiving, loving and merciful in the ordinary events of today and give us Your grace that we may grow in Your Love.

 

 

 

May God Be Praised.