NINE-MONTH NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

NINE-MONTH NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Start March 12 to December 12

Total Consecration to St. Joseph

Total Consecration to St. Joseph
Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 27

Face of Christ Novena Day 6

Face of Christ Novena Day 6
Novena of the Holy Face start November 27 and end on Thursday before 1st Friday December 6 Feast of St. Nick

Devotion to the Drops of Blood

Devotion to the Drops of Blood
I will descend from Heaven to take your soul and that of your relatives, until the fourth generation.

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Monday, December 2, 2024

Monday Night at the Movies Double Feature   Leo McCarey, The Bells of St. Mary's, 1945.   Frank Capra, It's a Wonderful Life, ...

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Thursday, November 18, 2021

 

Proverbs, Chapter 1, Verse 33

But whoever obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without FEAR of harm.” 

We must move toward inward peace! 

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. 

In modern times, with all the violence that is going on in the whole world and with America at the center of any response to terror and terrorists, and rogue nations how should we respond? 

First and foremost, we must be without fear; for the Lord is our King.  We should search our hearts and seek to retain a heart of peace.  Our response must be measured and used with no malice.  We must stop evil but not with hatred.  We should love the humanity of our enemies, pray for them and do good to them if we can.  

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink." (Romans 12:20) 

According to the CIA world fact book many of the countries in which we have the greatest troubles have the lowest per capita income per person in the world.  For example, per capita in the US is $62, 200 a year versus $1700 in North Korea (note the US is 17th in per capita (Hong Kong is 19); it is interesting to note the number one nation in per capita is Liechtenstein (big money launders) at $139,100).  Our enemies are hungry and used or abused by ruff creatures of men.  Imagine what could happen if we could use the great economic power of this country and other countries of goodwill to raise the good men in these regions up: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty: to empower men of goodwill and remove the ruff creatures of men from power. 

 

716 The People of the "poor" - those who, humble and meek, rely solely on their God's mysterious plans, who await the justice, not of men but of the Messiah - are in the end the great achievement of the Holy Spirit's hidden mission during the time of the promises that prepare for Christ's coming. It is this quality of heart, purified and enlightened by the Spirit, which is expressed in the Psalms. In these poor, the Spirit is making ready "a people prepared for the Lord."

 

2559 "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer, only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."

 

Great American Smokeout[1]


 

The Great American Smoke out is an informal holiday aimed at encouraging citizens to quit or plan to quit smoking. Smoking is a habit that involves consumption of tobacco smoke, which has been shown to cause a variety of cancers, most notably lung and mouth cancer. Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of Cancer death in the United States and the most preventable type of cancer worldwide. The Great American Smokeout is promoted by the American Cancer Society and is held on the third Thursday of November each year in an effort to reduce cases of preventable cancers, reduce secondhand smoke and improve the health of all Americans.


 

Great American Smokeout Facts & Quotes

 

·       The holiday began in 1970, when a man in Massachusetts asked people to give up smoking for one day, and donate the money saved to the local high school scholarship fund.

·       According to the Center for Disease Control, smoking is responsible for 1 in 3 cancer-related deaths, and 1 in 5 deaths from any cause.  Worldwide, tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year.

·       The Center for Disease Control state that life expectancy for smokers is 10 years less than that of non-smokers.

·       The Center for Disease Control states that middle-aged man who smokes, triples his risk of dying from some type of heart disease.

·       More Doctors Smoke Camels than Any Other Cigarette - line used in 1949 commercial for Camel Cigarettes.


 

Great American Smokeout Top Events and Things to Do

 

·       If you are a smoker, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for support in quitting.  You can also get help from organizations like smokefree.gov and ucanquit2.org.

·       Organize a sporting event like soccer or softball as a way to have fun and otherwise help smokers take their minds off of smoking.

·       Talk to someone you know who smokes and challenge them to quit for the day.

·       Give out sugarless gum to otherwise smokers as friendly gesture to promote an alternative.

·       Watch movies and documentaries that aim to uncover the tobacco industry and impact of tobacco addictions:
1) The Insider (1999)
2) Addiction Incorporated (2011)
3) Dying for a Smoke (1992)
4) Smoke & Mirrors: A History of Denial (2000)
 

St. Michael Helper of the Sick and Dying[2] 

Saint Michael the Archangel was the protector of Israel and is also traditionally known as “The Medicine of God.” Saint Michael as the military captain of the church of God has a great interest in the happenings of his people, their calamities and he does not overlook their calls for his aid. Let us therefore have recourse to him in times of sickness. He will most certainly come to our assistance bringing the healing graces of the Redeeming Blood. Yet, if it is the will of the father that we depart from this world Saint Michael does not abandon us for he is especially our advocate at our hour of death and assists at every deathbed for it is part of his office to receive the souls of the elect on their quitting the flesh. When the last hour of our earthly career draws near we are confronted by that awful moment when our soul must leave the body which it has loved so much, to pass through the narrow portal of death, satanic hosts like raving lions will make a last attack upon our souls. But we need not fear (but be at peace) if during life we have had devotion to the Precious Blood and have been faithful in venerating St. Michael and imploring his aid. He will cover us with his strong shield and lead us safely through the midst of our enemies.

Daily Devotions

·       Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: Absent Fathers (Physically & Spiritually)

·       do a personal eucharistic stations of the cross.

·       Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

·       Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·       "Faith cannot save without virtue"

·       Drops of Christ’s Blood

·       Iceman’s 40 devotion

·       Universal Man Plan

·       Rosary




[2] St. Michael and the Angels, Tan Books, 1983.



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