Statue of St. Joseph in the day chapel

Statue of St. Francis of Assisi

in the day chapel:

 

St. Francis of Assisi lived the gospel of Jesus. He lived poverty. He gave nearly everything he had to the poor. He even stripped off his clothing and gave the clothes to his father in the town square in the presence of the bishop.

Peace Prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

The Transfiguration - August 6

The journeys of Jesus and his Apostles in Lower Galilee culminate in a mysterious event, known as the Transfiguration. Together with his most trusted disciples-Peter, James and John-Jesus ascended a hill, "a high mountain apart," where "he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white." At the same time, Jesus was joined by two heavenly figures. One was the familiar figure of Elijah; the other was Moses. "Then a cloud overshadowed them," says Mark, "and from the cloud came a voice, 'This is my beloved Son, the beloved; listen to him!'" (Mark 9:3-7)

Moses and Elijah may represent the Law, including the ten commandments and the prophets, the two majore divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The appearance of Moses and Elijah illustrates that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise of redemption in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).

St. Joseph, Our Patron Saint - March 19

St. Joseph, our patron saint, is celebrated on March 19. The Statue posted is from the St. Joseph altar in our church.

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me.

This prayer was found in the fifteenth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle.

Annunciation of the Lord:

March 25

When God announced his choice of Mary as the mother of Jesus, her response went through several stages. At first she was deeply troubled. Then she wondered what the greeting of the angel meant. Next she questioned how this could be happening. Finally, she said her “Yes” in faith.

When we are challenged to accept the call of God, the same process often takes place in us: from confusion to wondering to asking, “Why me?” to acceptance. Where am I now in my faith response to God?

-Uses, Gene, The Wisdom of the Lord, Homilies for Weekdays and Feast Days, Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 1986, pg. 234.

This is a link from the Diocese of Sioux City Media Center with many religious education materials:

http://mediacenter.scdiocese.org/MediaThemesList?type=OA&name=Online Resource

Raising Lazarus from the Dead

Jesus walked to the tomb and asked that the round stone, which covered the opening, be rolled away, ignoring Martha's warning that the body would probably reek of decomposition. Then he cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" And "the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth." And, says John, many Jews came to believe in him - though for the Pharisees this act was apparently the last straw. They met with the chief priests and called a meeting of the council, arguably the Jewish Sanhedrin, to plot Jesus' arrest and execution (John 11:39-47).

Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Jesus is the lamb of the new covenant as well as the good shepherd. By his wounds we are healed.

We were delivered by Christ’s blood beyond all price: the blood of a spotless unblemished lamb. Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter as an offering for sin. Christ is the paschal lamb who has conquered death.

The litany “Lamb of God” is prayed at the liturgy while the bread is being broken for Communion.

Find a way this week to share your bread with someone in need and pray the litany “Lamb of God.”

 

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

19 days after Pentecost, on a Friday

The devotion to the Sacred Heart is one of the most widely practiced and well-known Roman Catholic devotions, taking Jesus Christ's physical heart as the representation of his divine love for humanity.

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and insconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.

Amen.

-- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

is celebrated on June 29.  The Church holds these men in such high honor that the prayers and readings for their feast day replace the usual Sunday readings when June 29 is on Sunday. Let us seek the intercession of Saint Peter, the rock on whom the Church is built, and Saint Paul, the apostle to the nations.

The Loaves and Fishes

 

On the weekend of July 29-30 we will hear about Jesus multiplying the fishes and the loaves. Let Jesus multiply what little you have. You have enough and Jesus will make it multiply into what you may need.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is August 15

You are the glory of Jerusalem…you are the splendid boast of our people…God is pleased with what you have wrought. May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty forever and ever – Judith 15:9-10