Today, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 is the birthday of his excellence, Bishop Mark A. Pivarunas. May God guide and protect him, today and all days henceforth. May he continue to do good works for the Holy Church and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Happy Birthday to our most Reverend Bishop from Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. God bless him.
Ave María
The Website Editor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
(Psalm 131: 9-10)
Sacerdotes tui, Dómine, índuant justítiam, et sancti tui exsúltent: propter David servum tuum, non avértas fáciem Christi tui.
(Let Thy priests, O Lord, be clothed with justice, and let Thy Saints rejoice: for Thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of Thine Anointed.)
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sermon of Fr. Gerard for The Feast of Christ The King
Christ as a true king has a standard, a flag, one which cannot be mistaken and which arrises from the very constitutions and nature of the kingdom from its fundamental teachings. St. Ignatius in his spiritual exercises puts before us the meditation on the two standards to show us clearly how God acts in his kingdom and how the devil acts in his. Christ tells us that when the devil is cast out of any place it is a sign that the kingdom of God has reached that place. We need to know today what is the standards of Christ because the enemy is at work among us in our spiritual lives and it is necessary to discover his tricks so as to cast him far from us so that that the true kingdom may grow in our hearts.
We find three characteristics of these standards of Christ the King.
The first is poverty against satan's standard of riches. The devil acts, in a way, opposite to that of Christ. He says: "If thou art the Son of God, command that theses stones be made bread." In other words, he tempted Our Lord not to trust that God would provide for him in time, when it was time, but as he was pointing to a field full of stones he was tempting him to provide more than he needed, which would be a temptation to greed. But Christ tells us that the difficulties that riches put in the way of our entry into the kingdom, as if they choked the seed of the will of God which is the root of his kingdom within us. He demands a renounciation of self on the part of all who would be his disciples and we see this in the lives of many saintly people, especially the kings and queens who have been canonized while they had a great deal of material things, a great deal of wealth, they disposed of these things for God's greater honor and glory building monestaries, convents, churches, providing for the poor, and living themselves very simply. Jesus announces solemly that the rich possessions of the kingdom of heaven are for the poor, then he said in the sermon on the mount: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." With the example of his life, Jesus has shown us that the way to the way to the Kingdom of heaven is through poverty, at least poverty in spirit. He could have told us about it and then lived differently but he chose to give us the example first so that we may find it easier to follow him along that difficult way.
Secondly, the standard of Christ represents suffering persecution and insults contrary to the worldly honors that the devil would have us seek. The devil offers his followers all the kingdoms of the earth if they will serve him as he said to Our Lord when he was tempting him in the desert: "All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Christ on the other hand says: "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice's sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ." On the way to Emmaus after the resurrection, Jesus declares that this way of persecution, suffering is the only way to enter his Kingdom; he rebuked the two disciples, with whom he was conversing and said: "Art not Christ to have suffered these things as though to enter into his glory?" We have, again, the example of his own life, when there was a chance that he might be proclaimed king after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes he fled into the mountains all by himself.
And thirdly, Christ the holds up the standard of humility against pride. The devil brings into our hearts the desire to be like God, this trick had good results in the case of our first parents. And he, as a devil, never ceases to try it on the human race even in the case of Christ, himself, he tried it. Again, when he was tempting him, he tried to induce him to act against God's providence and normal rules of conduct where one does not make rash moves which could endanger oneself trusting in God, Satan wanted him to throw himself down from the pinicle of the temple and Christ, of course, refused. Jesus declared that the kingdom of heaven is for those who become like little children, the one who humbles himself shall be exalted and he told us that he himself came to minister not to be ministered to or served. St. Paul tells us in his epistle to the Philipians that the glory of our king came only after a long series of humiliations. In fact, he says that because of his obedience Christ died, he was obedient even on to death and it was because of that he recieved immense glory so that his name is held in great respect.
In today's Gospel, Christ appears humbled, dishonored, and poor and he proclaims his kingship. He reigns from the cross, this is his throne. But there the good theif recognized his kingship and the centerian recognized that he was truly the Son of God. By dying on the cross, Our Lord showed us that his kingdom was not of this world, he had another standard or measure of true glory and that was of obedience to his father and suffering to bring about our salvation.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
We find three characteristics of these standards of Christ the King.
The first is poverty against satan's standard of riches. The devil acts, in a way, opposite to that of Christ. He says: "If thou art the Son of God, command that theses stones be made bread." In other words, he tempted Our Lord not to trust that God would provide for him in time, when it was time, but as he was pointing to a field full of stones he was tempting him to provide more than he needed, which would be a temptation to greed. But Christ tells us that the difficulties that riches put in the way of our entry into the kingdom, as if they choked the seed of the will of God which is the root of his kingdom within us. He demands a renounciation of self on the part of all who would be his disciples and we see this in the lives of many saintly people, especially the kings and queens who have been canonized while they had a great deal of material things, a great deal of wealth, they disposed of these things for God's greater honor and glory building monestaries, convents, churches, providing for the poor, and living themselves very simply. Jesus announces solemly that the rich possessions of the kingdom of heaven are for the poor, then he said in the sermon on the mount: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." With the example of his life, Jesus has shown us that the way to the way to the Kingdom of heaven is through poverty, at least poverty in spirit. He could have told us about it and then lived differently but he chose to give us the example first so that we may find it easier to follow him along that difficult way.
Secondly, the standard of Christ represents suffering persecution and insults contrary to the worldly honors that the devil would have us seek. The devil offers his followers all the kingdoms of the earth if they will serve him as he said to Our Lord when he was tempting him in the desert: "All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Christ on the other hand says: "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice's sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ." On the way to Emmaus after the resurrection, Jesus declares that this way of persecution, suffering is the only way to enter his Kingdom; he rebuked the two disciples, with whom he was conversing and said: "Art not Christ to have suffered these things as though to enter into his glory?" We have, again, the example of his own life, when there was a chance that he might be proclaimed king after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes he fled into the mountains all by himself.
And thirdly, Christ the holds up the standard of humility against pride. The devil brings into our hearts the desire to be like God, this trick had good results in the case of our first parents. And he, as a devil, never ceases to try it on the human race even in the case of Christ, himself, he tried it. Again, when he was tempting him, he tried to induce him to act against God's providence and normal rules of conduct where one does not make rash moves which could endanger oneself trusting in God, Satan wanted him to throw himself down from the pinicle of the temple and Christ, of course, refused. Jesus declared that the kingdom of heaven is for those who become like little children, the one who humbles himself shall be exalted and he told us that he himself came to minister not to be ministered to or served. St. Paul tells us in his epistle to the Philipians that the glory of our king came only after a long series of humiliations. In fact, he says that because of his obedience Christ died, he was obedient even on to death and it was because of that he recieved immense glory so that his name is held in great respect.
In today's Gospel, Christ appears humbled, dishonored, and poor and he proclaims his kingship. He reigns from the cross, this is his throne. But there the good theif recognized his kingship and the centerian recognized that he was truly the Son of God. By dying on the cross, Our Lord showed us that his kingdom was not of this world, he had another standard or measure of true glory and that was of obedience to his father and suffering to bring about our salvation.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Announcements for the week; The Feast of Christ The King
Wednesday, October 31, 2007, is the birthday of the most Rev. Bishop Mark A. Pivarunas.
On Thursday, November 1, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 7:00 P.M. It is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation, so please find the time to attend.
On Friday, November 2, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9:00 A.M. for All Souls Day. Anyone who is able to attend is far more than welcome to do so. For more information or questions you may have, please contact Fr. Gerard at the number posted on this site.
Audio CD's are now available from the 2007 Fatima Conference "All Generations Call me Blessed", which took place in Spokane, Washington at Mount St. Michael. They are $60.00 for a complete set of the talks, and $5.00 for the individual topics. For more information call (509) 467-1077
God bless you.
The Website Editor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
On Thursday, November 1, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 7:00 P.M. It is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation, so please find the time to attend.
On Friday, November 2, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9:00 A.M. for All Souls Day. Anyone who is able to attend is far more than welcome to do so. For more information or questions you may have, please contact Fr. Gerard at the number posted on this site.
Audio CD's are now available from the 2007 Fatima Conference "All Generations Call me Blessed", which took place in Spokane, Washington at Mount St. Michael. They are $60.00 for a complete set of the talks, and $5.00 for the individual topics. For more information call (509) 467-1077
God bless you.
The Website Editor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The Feast of Christ The King
From the Introit:
Give to the King, O God, Thy justice, and to the King's Son Thy judgement.
Epistle from the letter of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Colossians (1: 12-20)
Brethren: Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the Saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through his Blood, the remission of sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: for in Him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible: whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by Him and in Him; and He is before all, and by Him all things consist, and he is the head of the body of the Church, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things He may hold the primacy because in Him it hath well-pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; and through Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, making peace through the Blood of His cross, both as to the things on earth, and the things that are in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gopel:
According to St. John (18: 33-37)
At that time: Pilate said to Jesus: Art Thou King of the Jews? Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself or have others told it thee of Me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me: what hast Thou done? Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world, If My kingdom were of this world, My servants wouild certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said to him: Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Announcements for the week; 21st Sunday After Pentecost
On Thursday, November 1, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 7:00 P.M. It is a Holy Day of Obligation so please find the time to attend.
On Friday, November 2, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9:00 A.M. Anyone who is able to attend is far more than welcome to do so. For more information or questions you may have, please contact Fr. Gerard at the number posted on this site.
Audio CD's are now available from the 2007 Fatima Conference "All Generations Call me Blessed", which took place in Spokane, Washington at Mount St. Michael. They are $60.00 for a complete set of the talks, and $5.00 for the individual topics. For more information call (509) 467-1077
God bless you.
The Website Editor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
On Friday, November 2, 2007; Fr. Gerard will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9:00 A.M. Anyone who is able to attend is far more than welcome to do so. For more information or questions you may have, please contact Fr. Gerard at the number posted on this site.
Audio CD's are now available from the 2007 Fatima Conference "All Generations Call me Blessed", which took place in Spokane, Washington at Mount St. Michael. They are $60.00 for a complete set of the talks, and $5.00 for the individual topics. For more information call (509) 467-1077
God bless you.
The Website Editor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Sermon of Fr. Gabriel for the 21st Sunday After Pentecost
Today we had for the Epistle a very powerful Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians where he reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle, reminding us that our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers and rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of darkness on high and therefore he urges us like good soldiers of Jesus Christ to put on our armour to fight this battle. He says: "Therefore take up the armour of God so that you may be able to resist the evil day and stand in all things perfect." So he says: "Have your mourning discarded with truth. Put on the breastplate of justice, have your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace, take up the sheild of faith with which you may be able to quench all the fiery docks of the most wicked one, put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit that is the word of God."
My dear friends in Christ, we always have to remember that in this life we are in a spiritual battle. What would happen to an army, even if they were the best equipped army, if they refuse to see that they are in a battle, in a war, and so they lay down their weapons, took off their armour, and just decided to take things easy? They would get wiped out by the enemy no matter how greatly prepared they were, no matter if they had the best technology, the best equipment, the best armour, they would get wiped out because they failed to see that they were in a battle. Well, it's the same way in the spiritual life. We have a battle to fight. We're not in this world, God didn't put us here, for a vacation. He put us here to fight the spiritual battle and those who don't fight, they don't make it. If we fight we get to heaven. If we put down our arms and don't fight, then we have a miserable existence for all eternity. Because our Lord told us that there is only one way to get to heaven. He said: "The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and only the violent bare the way." He didn't say "mostly the violent", but "only the violent bare the way." So only if we recognize we're in a battle against the world, the flesh and the devil, only then can we make it to heaven. We won't win the battle by ignoring the battle. God has given us many weapons to fight with in this battle. We have the sacraments, confession, Holy Communion. The other sacraments: we have prayer, we have the good example of others around us, we have the good example of the saints that came before us and who fought valiently. We have all the equipment, all the spiritual equipment we need in order to win the battle.
We've been blessed with so much more than what those people in the Old Testement had. They didn't have confession or Holy Communion, we have a crucifix we can look at, when we see the Son of God nailed to the cross for our sins and if that doesn't urge us to fight, then I don't know what would. In the Old Testiment, yes they knew there was a Messiah who would come but they very much misunderstood what he would be like and they thought that he would come in might and power and glory. But we know that Christ came in all humility being born in the stable and then finally ended up being crucified on the cross and the Jews couldn't believe that God would do that. We know that God has done that for us and that should urge us to fight corageously in the battle.
One of the weapons we've been given is the rosary. During this month of October we are urged to increase our fervor in saying the rosary. When we look through the history since the time Our Lady gave the rosary to St. Dominic, many great battles have been won, spiritual victories. St. Dominic using the rosary defeated the Albegencian Heresy, which was a terrible heresy ruining souls, not only that but burning and destroying things wherever they went, they denied there was a hell or a purgatory, they looked upon divorce as something praise worthy, they had a practice called the "endura", which was a starving to death, and they thought it was a noble and good thing to do and their leaders called themselves perfect and they would help people starve to death by making sure that they didn't get any food. What was it that overcame that heresy? It was preaching the rosary. When the Muslims threatened in the 1500's to overrun Europe and to persecute Catholics for the Catholic faith, it was through the rosary that the great naval victory at Lepanto was won and they were driven back. When the Turks were threatening to overrun Austria, some time later, the great General John Sovieski, through Mary's intercession was able to drive them back. Then Our Blessed Mother appeared at Lourdes, again to remind us to pray the rosary and then again in 1917 at Fatima, each of the six times she appeared, she reminded the three children to pray the rosary, get people to pray the rosary, pray the rosary every day, not just often but every day. And what did those three little children do? They didn't just sit back as they saw the battle going on. They knew we were in a battle and they knew that to win it, they would have to fight. Our Blessed Mother had said to Francisco that he would get to heaven but on condition that he prayed many rosaries so he would pray sometimes eight or nine rosaries in a day. Our Blessed Mother opened up the earth and showed the three children the vision of hell, they saw the souls that lost the battle. Those that turned against God fell into mortal sin and lost themselves forever. They saw those souls and they saw many souls falling into hell and why? Because they refused to fight, those souls were lost because they refused to fight.
So those three little sheaperd children, as young as they were, they took it so seriously. They prayed rosaries, they did sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, they gave up their lunches, they defied themeselves of water, refreshment, when they were thirsty, they wore rough ropes around the waist for penence. When we think of ourselves we might say: "I wish I could say the rosary with a fervor like they did." But we have to remember that there is a difference between a wish and a willing. A wish to do something, and the will to do something. When we wish to do something, we may think: "well it would be nice, it would be nice if we had the fervor that those children had in praying the rosary." But if we don't really try, then we don't will it, we only wish it. We only wish it because we think its a nice thing to be able to pray the rosary devoutly. But we don't think it worth actually putting some effort in to do that. If we will it, then we think it's worth the effort and we put forth the effort to say our rosary well, even when its hard. And so we say our rosary and we have to fight off distractions and a thousand times in one rosary, we fight off a distraction and try again to bring our mind back to meditating on the mystery. Then we will it, we will to pray the rosary devoutly and our rosary is prayed well, even though we had to fight off a thousand distractions.
I'd like to conclude just by mentioning a quotation of a well known priest, he was known to be very holy, he died in 1931 in Paris, France and one of his sayings I like very much is said that: "The devil is the mortal enemy of the rosary, he hates the rosary, he hates to see us praying the rosary and why? Because he knows that if we pray our rosary, then he has lost." So he says that: "Even if I didn't have the love of God in me, even if I didn't pray the rosary for the love of God, I would still pray the rosary just to annoy the devil." So let's remember that in this spiritual warfare, the rosary is one of our great weapons and it doesn't do any good to have it nicely stored away in our dresser to pray it just now and then like someone who keeps a gun stored away in a cabinet, it doesn't do them any good there when they need it. So let's pray our rosary everyday and as Pope Pius IX pointed out: "Through Our Lady's intercession we would overcome and destroy the monsterous errors of our times provided only that we often say the holy rosary."
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
From the Introit:
All things are in Thy will, O Lord: and there is none that can resist Thy will: for Thou hast made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven.
Epistle from Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians (6: 10-17):
Bretheren: Be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of His power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Gospel (according to St. Matthew (18: 23-35)
At that time Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable: The Kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him that owed him ten thousand talents: and as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. But that servant falling down, besought him saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go; and forgave him the debt. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellowservants that owed him a hundred pence: and laying hold of him, he throttled him saying: Pay what thou owest. And his fellowservant falling down besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay the all. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison till he paid the debt. Now his fellowservants, seeing what was done, were very much grieved; and they came and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him, and saith to him: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt because thou besoughtest me; shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellowservant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord being angry delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
All things are in Thy will, O Lord: and there is none that can resist Thy will: for Thou hast made all things, heaven and earth, and all things that are under the cope of heaven.
Epistle from Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians (6: 10-17):
Bretheren: Be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of His power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Gospel (according to St. Matthew (18: 23-35)
At that time Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable: The Kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him that owed him ten thousand talents: and as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. But that servant falling down, besought him saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go; and forgave him the debt. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellowservants that owed him a hundred pence: and laying hold of him, he throttled him saying: Pay what thou owest. And his fellowservant falling down besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay the all. And he would not; but went and cast him into prison till he paid the debt. Now his fellowservants, seeing what was done, were very much grieved; and they came and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him, and saith to him: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt because thou besoughtest me; shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellowservant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord being angry delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sermon of Fr. Gerard for the 20th Sunday After Pentecost
Yesterday was the 90th anniversary of the "Miracle of the Sun" at Fatima, Portugal when seventy to a hundred thousand people from all over Portugal witnessed a great miracle, which had been promised beforehand by our Blessed Mother. Many atheists and agnostics, free thinkers had come to debunk the beliefs of the people who had come to see this miracle but they themselves remembered their prayers from childhood and cried out to God for mercy as the sun plunged towards the earth and seemed that it was going to destroy everything. When the sun returned to it's place, the people discovered that their clothing, which had been soaked from standing in the mud, was all dry and so this was reported in the secular press in Portugal. Unfortunately, in the United States the World Series was going on and so it was relevated to a back page in an unimportant section (might have been the sport's section) and so the message or the apparition of the Blessed Virgin at Fatima did not become well known in our country until shortly after World War II. Because at that time, it was revealed that Our Lady had predicted the Second World War, but the miracle, which took place at Fatima, is not the important thing about the apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, what's more important is her message and her message is basically of prayer, penance, modesty, reparation and consecration to her Immaculate Heart.
Our Lady in each apparition said: "pray the rosary every day" and she also said, "pray the rosary for peace", in one of her apparitions she said: "The war is going to end and the soldiers are going to come home." She asked for penance, she said: "My Son is greatly offended, men must cease to offend God, who is already too much offended." She asked for modesty, she said: "Styles and fashions will be introduced..." (This is in 1917) "...these will be introduced which will gravely offend her Divine Son." She asked for reparation; when the children saw a vision of hell in July of 1917 she said: "You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. So many go to hell because they have no one to pray and sacrifice for them." She also said: "My Son also wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart," and she promised that she would return later, which she did in the 1920's, I think, to ask for the communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. On the practice of observing First Saturdays, Our Blessed Mother requested that on the First Saturday, the rosary be recited, that the faithful keep her company for fifteen minutes meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, this is in addition to praying it and then confession and communion. When she was asked later on, "What if someone couldn't receive communion on the Saturday?" Our Lady said that if my priests won't allow it, then they will receive their communion on Sunday. To those who make the first five Saturdays she promised to help to give them all the graces needed for salvation at the moment of their death to those who would practice this devotion. In each of her apparitions Our Lady asked the children to pray the rosary, there is a similarity here between Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes where she held the rosary while Bernadette recited it, only joining in at the "Glory Be's" because it was the only prayer suitable for her in her glorified state.
She asked the children to come for six months so that in October she would perform a miracle so that all would believe. This was in response to a request made by Lucía that she work a miracle so that those who doubted their words would believe. In the July apparition, Our Lady showed the children a vision of hell. On August 13, the children were not at the "Copa de Herria" in Fatima, Portugal because they had been taken prisoner by the Mayor, I think it was, a free-thinker and wanted to put an end to this business of crowds of people coming to his area. Those who were present at the Copa de Herria saw a small cloud come and settle over the oak tree, where Our Lady had been appearing, and then it lifted up and disappeared into the east, as it had on other occasions. On August 19, Our Lady appeared in another place called "Valinos" to the children and told them: "Because of their disbelief, the miracle in October will not be so great." but she asserted them to come back the next month on the thirteenth. On October 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared and told them, as she promised, her name. She said: "I am the Lady of the Rosary." She told the children in the course of these apparitions that Jacinta and Francisco will die soon but Lucía would stay a while longer. As it turned out, Lucía lived many decades longer. Francisco and Jacinta died very pious deaths. Francisco spent the remainder of his short life, much of it in front of the Blessed Sacrament adoring Jesus. Jacinta became ill, however both of them died because of the influenza of 1918, that epidemic that swept across Europe and the world. Jacinta had visions of Our Lady who gave her further insights and Jacinta herself, through the Holy Ghost, had her own insights for example when she said: "Priests must be very pure, they must not concern themselves with things of the world."
After Our Lady told the children her name and promised to cure some and others she would not, she pointed to the sun which began to spin and, as I mentioned earlier, it began to plunge to the earth and people there thought that they were going to die. While this miracle was going on, there were some other visions, which the children had. First, they had a vision of the Holy Family, which gave reference to the Joyful Mysteries, St. Joseph appeared with the Child Jesus and blessed the crowd, then Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Sorrows and she appeared with Our Lord robed in red and finally she appeared as Our Lady of Carmel and in this she emphasized the importance of wearing the scapular, which is, as later commented by Sister Lucía, the sign of consecration to her Immaculate Heart and the actual form of consecration to Our Lady which most closely corresponds to what Our Lady asks is that consecration to Jesus through Mary as taught by St. Louis, where we give all that we have, even the value of our good works to Jesus through Mary that she may deal with them in a manner that is most pleasing to Almighty God.
Yesterday in Spokane, there was a day of retreat discussing the four steps of preparation for this total consecration, our renouncement of the spirit of the world, knowledge of self, knowledge of the Blessed Virgin Mary and knowledge of Jesus Christ. As I said, the most important thing about the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima is not the miracle that she worked or the prophecies that she made. The first secret that the children had and were not permitted to reveal for some time was the vision of hell, then the fact that there would be a Second World War. Sister Lucía did not receive permission to reveal this until some time after that war because her role was not to be a prophetess or to prophecise the war, but to be a messenger and to know that man had not answered Our Lady's requests in sufficient numbers and as a result, in 1938 the night was illumined by a strange light preceding the outbreak of World War II in 1939. There was a third secret which was supposed to be revealed in 1960 because Sister Lucía said these things would be better understood. But because from reliable accounts of those who had seen the third Fatima secret and not the supposed version, which was published in the last few years, which is actually not connected with the import of that which went before it, the messages of Our Lady, that there would be a great upheaval in the Church, causing great harm to souls.
This secret was not revealed, obviously, because John XXIII and those who came after him were involved in the plot. They had their involvement in that, which was actually happening, the actual upheaval and revolution in the Church which brought about the great changes which occurred in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, things which contradicted past Church teachings, especially in regards to the ideas of ecumenism and religious liberty, the false principles of these which were previously condemned by Pope Pius IX in the 1800's and by Pope Pius XI in the 1930's. The subsequent changes in the liturgy, which affected not only the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but all the Sacraments. Especially the Sacraments of Holy Orders which includes the consecration of Bishops and the ordination of priests, which would render highly doubtful, if not, invalid so as to render complete the destruction of the Church by it's enemies. But as Sister Lucía said: "The rosary has been given by Almighty God a special efficacy for these times." Because in so many places, the Mass is not available at all and where it is available, it is nothing near available as it was before the changes, which came about in the wake of Vatican II. The Latin Mass has so nearly disappeared throughout the world where at one time, it was offered around the globe and around the clock.
So let us answer Our Lady's request because it is due to the failure of living up to these requests that we have seen the Second World War, that we have seen the upheaval in the Church because not enough Catholics answered her message. Our Lady appeared in Medjugorje, Germany, this apparition did not receive official approbation but it has all the marks of a true apparition of Our Lady, she said that: "Because her message had not been sufficiently heeded, her reign will not be an open reign in society but rather a reign in hearts and that people should not look for signs and wonders because the devil can work signs and wonders. But rather they should keep the faith in their hearts." We've seen many supposed apparitions of Our Mother especially Medjugorje and some of the others where volumes and volumes of supposed messages had been recorded in distinction to the usual method of the Blessed Mother who speaks very few words and on a few occasions instead of hundreds and hundreds of occasions and volumes of messages and Our Lady gave clear indications of the truth of her apparitions like LaSalette, Lourdes and Fatima but these modern ones are basically, especially Medjugorje, giving credence to the ideas of ecumenism and support for the Novus Ordo Missae which is not the Catholic Mass but much more like the Lutheran and the Episcopalian services because, after all it was put forth by Paul VI in the 1960's with the collaboration of a number of protestant ministers so this is not a Catholic worship. Yet, at Medjugorje, the supposed apparitions took place in context of the modern mass.
Let us follow Our Lady's warnings, let us heed her message of prayer, penance, modesty and preparation in consecration to her Immaculate Heart and in so doing we will triumph in our own mists, especially in our own hearts.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Our Lady in each apparition said: "pray the rosary every day" and she also said, "pray the rosary for peace", in one of her apparitions she said: "The war is going to end and the soldiers are going to come home." She asked for penance, she said: "My Son is greatly offended, men must cease to offend God, who is already too much offended." She asked for modesty, she said: "Styles and fashions will be introduced..." (This is in 1917) "...these will be introduced which will gravely offend her Divine Son." She asked for reparation; when the children saw a vision of hell in July of 1917 she said: "You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. So many go to hell because they have no one to pray and sacrifice for them." She also said: "My Son also wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart," and she promised that she would return later, which she did in the 1920's, I think, to ask for the communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. On the practice of observing First Saturdays, Our Blessed Mother requested that on the First Saturday, the rosary be recited, that the faithful keep her company for fifteen minutes meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, this is in addition to praying it and then confession and communion. When she was asked later on, "What if someone couldn't receive communion on the Saturday?" Our Lady said that if my priests won't allow it, then they will receive their communion on Sunday. To those who make the first five Saturdays she promised to help to give them all the graces needed for salvation at the moment of their death to those who would practice this devotion. In each of her apparitions Our Lady asked the children to pray the rosary, there is a similarity here between Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes where she held the rosary while Bernadette recited it, only joining in at the "Glory Be's" because it was the only prayer suitable for her in her glorified state.
She asked the children to come for six months so that in October she would perform a miracle so that all would believe. This was in response to a request made by Lucía that she work a miracle so that those who doubted their words would believe. In the July apparition, Our Lady showed the children a vision of hell. On August 13, the children were not at the "Copa de Herria" in Fatima, Portugal because they had been taken prisoner by the Mayor, I think it was, a free-thinker and wanted to put an end to this business of crowds of people coming to his area. Those who were present at the Copa de Herria saw a small cloud come and settle over the oak tree, where Our Lady had been appearing, and then it lifted up and disappeared into the east, as it had on other occasions. On August 19, Our Lady appeared in another place called "Valinos" to the children and told them: "Because of their disbelief, the miracle in October will not be so great." but she asserted them to come back the next month on the thirteenth. On October 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared and told them, as she promised, her name. She said: "I am the Lady of the Rosary." She told the children in the course of these apparitions that Jacinta and Francisco will die soon but Lucía would stay a while longer. As it turned out, Lucía lived many decades longer. Francisco and Jacinta died very pious deaths. Francisco spent the remainder of his short life, much of it in front of the Blessed Sacrament adoring Jesus. Jacinta became ill, however both of them died because of the influenza of 1918, that epidemic that swept across Europe and the world. Jacinta had visions of Our Lady who gave her further insights and Jacinta herself, through the Holy Ghost, had her own insights for example when she said: "Priests must be very pure, they must not concern themselves with things of the world."
After Our Lady told the children her name and promised to cure some and others she would not, she pointed to the sun which began to spin and, as I mentioned earlier, it began to plunge to the earth and people there thought that they were going to die. While this miracle was going on, there were some other visions, which the children had. First, they had a vision of the Holy Family, which gave reference to the Joyful Mysteries, St. Joseph appeared with the Child Jesus and blessed the crowd, then Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Sorrows and she appeared with Our Lord robed in red and finally she appeared as Our Lady of Carmel and in this she emphasized the importance of wearing the scapular, which is, as later commented by Sister Lucía, the sign of consecration to her Immaculate Heart and the actual form of consecration to Our Lady which most closely corresponds to what Our Lady asks is that consecration to Jesus through Mary as taught by St. Louis, where we give all that we have, even the value of our good works to Jesus through Mary that she may deal with them in a manner that is most pleasing to Almighty God.
Yesterday in Spokane, there was a day of retreat discussing the four steps of preparation for this total consecration, our renouncement of the spirit of the world, knowledge of self, knowledge of the Blessed Virgin Mary and knowledge of Jesus Christ. As I said, the most important thing about the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima is not the miracle that she worked or the prophecies that she made. The first secret that the children had and were not permitted to reveal for some time was the vision of hell, then the fact that there would be a Second World War. Sister Lucía did not receive permission to reveal this until some time after that war because her role was not to be a prophetess or to prophecise the war, but to be a messenger and to know that man had not answered Our Lady's requests in sufficient numbers and as a result, in 1938 the night was illumined by a strange light preceding the outbreak of World War II in 1939. There was a third secret which was supposed to be revealed in 1960 because Sister Lucía said these things would be better understood. But because from reliable accounts of those who had seen the third Fatima secret and not the supposed version, which was published in the last few years, which is actually not connected with the import of that which went before it, the messages of Our Lady, that there would be a great upheaval in the Church, causing great harm to souls.
This secret was not revealed, obviously, because John XXIII and those who came after him were involved in the plot. They had their involvement in that, which was actually happening, the actual upheaval and revolution in the Church which brought about the great changes which occurred in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, things which contradicted past Church teachings, especially in regards to the ideas of ecumenism and religious liberty, the false principles of these which were previously condemned by Pope Pius IX in the 1800's and by Pope Pius XI in the 1930's. The subsequent changes in the liturgy, which affected not only the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but all the Sacraments. Especially the Sacraments of Holy Orders which includes the consecration of Bishops and the ordination of priests, which would render highly doubtful, if not, invalid so as to render complete the destruction of the Church by it's enemies. But as Sister Lucía said: "The rosary has been given by Almighty God a special efficacy for these times." Because in so many places, the Mass is not available at all and where it is available, it is nothing near available as it was before the changes, which came about in the wake of Vatican II. The Latin Mass has so nearly disappeared throughout the world where at one time, it was offered around the globe and around the clock.
So let us answer Our Lady's request because it is due to the failure of living up to these requests that we have seen the Second World War, that we have seen the upheaval in the Church because not enough Catholics answered her message. Our Lady appeared in Medjugorje, Germany, this apparition did not receive official approbation but it has all the marks of a true apparition of Our Lady, she said that: "Because her message had not been sufficiently heeded, her reign will not be an open reign in society but rather a reign in hearts and that people should not look for signs and wonders because the devil can work signs and wonders. But rather they should keep the faith in their hearts." We've seen many supposed apparitions of Our Mother especially Medjugorje and some of the others where volumes and volumes of supposed messages had been recorded in distinction to the usual method of the Blessed Mother who speaks very few words and on a few occasions instead of hundreds and hundreds of occasions and volumes of messages and Our Lady gave clear indications of the truth of her apparitions like LaSalette, Lourdes and Fatima but these modern ones are basically, especially Medjugorje, giving credence to the ideas of ecumenism and support for the Novus Ordo Missae which is not the Catholic Mass but much more like the Lutheran and the Episcopalian services because, after all it was put forth by Paul VI in the 1960's with the collaboration of a number of protestant ministers so this is not a Catholic worship. Yet, at Medjugorje, the supposed apparitions took place in context of the modern mass.
Let us follow Our Lady's warnings, let us heed her message of prayer, penance, modesty and preparation in consecration to her Immaculate Heart and in so doing we will triumph in our own mists, especially in our own hearts.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Announcements for the week; 20th Sunday After Pentecost
Audio CD's are now available from the 2007 Fatima Conference "All Generations Call me Blessed", which took place in Spokane, Washington at Mount St. Michael. They are $60.00 for a complete set of the talks, and $5.00 for the individual topics. For more information call (509) 467-1077.
Monday, October 15, 2007 at 7A.M. Father Gerard will be celebrating Mass. Anyone who can attend is welcome to do so.
Monday, October 15, 2007 at 7A.M. Father Gerard will be celebrating Mass. Anyone who can attend is welcome to do so.
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
From the Introit:
"All that Thou hast done to us, O Lord, Thou hast done in true judgement..."
Epistle from Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians (5: 15-21)
Brethren: See how you walk circumspectly, not as u8nwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury: but be ye filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord: giving thanks always for all things, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father; being subject one to another in the fear of Christ.
Gospel:
According to St. John (4:46-53)
At that time, there was a certain ruler whose son was sick at Capharnaum. He having heard that Jesus was come from Judaea into Galilee, went to Him, and prayed Him to come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him: Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe not. The ruler saith to Him: Lord, come down before my son die. Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy son liveth. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and went his way. And as he was going down, his servants met him, and they brought word, saying that his son lived. He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better. And they said to him: Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father therefore knew that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him: Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and his whole house.
"All that Thou hast done to us, O Lord, Thou hast done in true judgement..."
Epistle from Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians (5: 15-21)
Brethren: See how you walk circumspectly, not as u8nwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury: but be ye filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord: giving thanks always for all things, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father; being subject one to another in the fear of Christ.
Gospel:
According to St. John (4:46-53)
At that time, there was a certain ruler whose son was sick at Capharnaum. He having heard that Jesus was come from Judaea into Galilee, went to Him, and prayed Him to come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. Jesus therefore said to him: Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe not. The ruler saith to Him: Lord, come down before my son die. Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy son liveth. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and went his way. And as he was going down, his servants met him, and they brought word, saying that his son lived. He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better. And they said to him: Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. The father therefore knew that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him: Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and his whole house.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Sermon of Fr. Gerard for the 19th Sunday After Pentecost
(Note, Father came up with a Homily for Feast of the Holy Rosary, but I could not get it in writting so he provided me with a previously written Homily for the 19th Sunday After Pentecost)- Web editor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
"In today's Gospel, we have the parable of the wedding feast. The invited guests recieved the call and rejected it- even to the extent of mistreating and killing the messengers. We can view this rejection as a symbol of the rejection of God's grace by an ungrateful soul.
What is this rejection of grace?
It means a rejection of divine onmipotence which created the soul and longs to direct it. The soul opposes his power and makes it fail; It is to despise his knowledge which chose such a wonderful way to make us like God himself.
It is to despise the order of His Providence; to range ourselves on the side of Satan against His established order of things.
Rejection of grace means despising the Passion and Death of Christ, the purpose of which was to restore grace to us.
It implies despising the glory of God, the last end of all order in the world; in rejecting grace we rob God of his glory;
It means despising the plan God has for saving us the immediate purpose in giving us his grace.
Rejection of Gods grace may easily mean the rejection of the last chance which God will give us to save our souls (parable of the wise and the foolish virgins).
Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts (Ps 94:8) this psalm verse is used every day at matiens, the first hour of the Divine Office. The Church also uses this Psalm (94) at the burial service."
"In today's Gospel, we have the parable of the wedding feast. The invited guests recieved the call and rejected it- even to the extent of mistreating and killing the messengers. We can view this rejection as a symbol of the rejection of God's grace by an ungrateful soul.
What is this rejection of grace?
It means a rejection of divine onmipotence which created the soul and longs to direct it. The soul opposes his power and makes it fail; It is to despise his knowledge which chose such a wonderful way to make us like God himself.
It is to despise the order of His Providence; to range ourselves on the side of Satan against His established order of things.
Rejection of grace means despising the Passion and Death of Christ, the purpose of which was to restore grace to us.
It implies despising the glory of God, the last end of all order in the world; in rejecting grace we rob God of his glory;
It means despising the plan God has for saving us the immediate purpose in giving us his grace.
Rejection of Gods grace may easily mean the rejection of the last chance which God will give us to save our souls (parable of the wise and the foolish virgins).
Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts (Ps 94:8) this psalm verse is used every day at matiens, the first hour of the Divine Office. The Church also uses this Psalm (94) at the burial service."
Feast of the Holy Rosary
Epistle from the Book of Proverbs (Wisdom) 8: 22-24; 32-35
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything, from the beginning, I was set up from eternity and of old, before the earth was made. The depths were not as yet, and I was already concieved. Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates; and waiteth at the posts of my doors. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
Gospel according to St. Luke: 1: 26-38
At that time the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying: and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God: behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most high shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold they cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything, from the beginning, I was set up from eternity and of old, before the earth was made. The depths were not as yet, and I was already concieved. Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates; and waiteth at the posts of my doors. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
Gospel according to St. Luke: 1: 26-38
At that time the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying: and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God: behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most high shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold they cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.
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