Feast of St. Andrew: Saint of the Day for November 30th

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18)

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena 

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O My God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen

 

It is piously believed that whoever recites the prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas (December 25th) will obtain what is asked.

 

The novena is not actually addressed to Saint Andrew but to God Himself, asking Him to grant our request in the honor of the birth of His Son at Christmas. 

 

(Imprimatur: +MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York, New York, February 6, 1897.)

 

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Stained glass window photographed inside Saint Peter the Apostle Church, Parsippany, NJ, USA.

Read More: History of St. Andrew

 

Photograph Copyright Loci B. Lenar

Fatima and the Conversion of Russia: Pope Francis Meets President Putin

News excerpt from Catholic Online

By Deacon Keith Fournier

The return of Christianity to Russia should give us hope for our own Nation as we face the effects of moral relativism, secularism and the growing hostility toward Christianity. I want to suggest something which will raise many eyebrows. Is what is happening today in Russia today a partial fulfillment of the promised conversion of that Nation? President Putin exchanging icons of Mary with Pope Francis today was not simply a mere nicety. Accounts which have surfaced indicate that it was done with reverence and genuine Christian piety. Could this be a part of the promise of Fatima being fulfilled?

Read more: Fatima and the Conversion of Russia

The Rosary - A Biblical Prayer

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Preparing for Advent - Morning of Reflection on the Joyful Mysteries

Are you ready for Advent? Join us for an uplifting and engaging morning of Sacred Scripture as we welcome Catholic biblical scholar Dr. Steven Smith, author of The Word of the Lord: Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

9:00 am - 12:00 pm 

St. Mary's Parish

15 Myers Avenue

  Denville, New Jersey 07834  

Together, we will learn about the 5 Joyful Mysteries in the Gospels:

• Learn how the Rosary truly is a 'biblical' prayer
• Contemplate Mary ... and her heart for Jesus
• What does it mean that Mary is 'Full of Grace'?
• What are the mysteries of Jesus in the Temple - and what do they reveal?
• What are the '3 R's' - and how can they help us study the Gospels?

Dr. Steven Smith is Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary's Seminary (Emmitsburg, MD), the largest - and one of the most respected - graduate programs and houses of formation in the United States. Steve has a Ph.D in New Testament from Loyola University of Chicago. As a seminary professor, he teaches on a wide array of biblical topics (OT, NT, etc.) - including a course on Catholic Scripture study which inspired his first published book. In the Fall of 2012, Our Sunday Visitor released Dr. Smith's new book, The Word of the Lord: 7 Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study. It is endorsed by Francis Cardinal George among others.

Signed copies of his book - and major CD sets of biblical teaching will be available at the event.

Dr. Steven Smith's website: TheGodWhoSpeaks.com.

He and his wife Elizabeth have been married 13 years. They Have two lovely children and live in rural Maryland.

(News Release Supplied by St. Mary's Parish)

Saint Mary's Prayer Service Scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 PM on November 21, 2013

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

 

St. Mary's Catholic Church holds a monthly service for prayer with Fr. Richard Tartaglia including special prayer intentions which are submitted through the website of http://www.christian-miracles.com/prayerrequest.htm

St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on the corner of Myers Avenue and Route 46, Denville, New Jersey.

If you cannot attend the prayer service, you can still join in by praying in unity for all special prayer intentions.

There is great power through the Holy Spirit when people join together in agreement while praying for God’s help and intervention.

Regarding prayer, Jesus said, "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:19-20)

Vatican University looks into the 'Beginning' of the Universe

News from RomeReports.com

The sheer magnitude of stars, planets and  galaxies have always triggered questions about the beginning. Mostly, how was the Universe created and why? Was something created out of nothing? Those very questions were addressed by experts at the Vatican's Gregorian University, where the 'Big Bang' theory and others less popular theories were discussed. 

FR. GABRIELE GIONTI

Vatican Observatory 

“There is the scientific possibility that there is not only one universe, but that there are many 'universes' and they are parallel, independent, each one from the other.” 

Father Gionti is a Jesuit who lives in Castel Gandolfo, where the Vatican has one of its two observatories. He has spent a lifetime studying mathematics, science and more specifically, 'Quantum Physics.'  He says the fact that the Universe follows an intelligent, rational order, could be indirect proof, that God created it. 

FR. GABRIELE GIONTI

Vatican Observatory 

“That it can be explained through mathematics and through science is not in contrast with the idea of a God who created this world.” 

MICHELINA TENACE 

Director of Fundamental Theology, Gregorian University 

“For this very reason, scientific discoveries and everything science brings is an added blessing. Scientific research and that yearning triggered by faith, are not on two opposing ends.” 

The forum addressed theories based on science, philosophy and Theology, since sometimes theories that seem to oppose one another, often have a common denominator. 

FR. GABRIELE GIONTI

Vatican Observatory 

“Big Bang seems to be in agreement with Genesis and Creation, but Creation is a notion that really is not in science.” 

In a field where scientific research is based on proof, they admit, not everything can be explained through faith, but they also add that not everything can be explained through science.

American Protestant-based group making inroads with Catholics

News from Reports.com

Founded nearly 200 years ago, the American Bible Society has always played a big part in spreading the Gospel within the United States.  

The non-profit organization was founded by Protestant leaders in the early times of the American nation. But in the past few decades they've begun reaching out to Catholics. 

MARIO PAREDES 

American Bible Society 

“The mission of the American Bible Society is to spread the Word of God, to make available to all people. And certainly, an important segment of Christianity is the Catholic Church. And so this inter-confessional organization called American Bible Society is opening the door to the Catholic Church and serving the Catholic communities.” 

This outreach has reached the top levels of Catholicism. The organization's president addressed the Synod of Bishops in 2012. And their latest effort is the book Pray With the Bible, Meditate With the Word. It was published in collaboration with the LEV, the Vatican's publishing house. 

The book is described as a manual on Lectio Divina, studying Christianity's Holy Book. It features a four step process: knowing the text, understanding the words, meditating on their message and putting them into action. 

MARIO PAREDES 

American Bible Society 

“The end goal of the Lectio Divina is to bring people back to the Bible, and to bring people back to praying with the Bible. It's to bring people to get to know the God of the Bible, and a relationship that can become a personal relationship between myself and the God of the Bible.” 

The book is available in three languages: English, Italian and Spanish. It's available at specialty bookstores. Over time, the American Bible Society has expanded its services beyond the United States. Keeping in line with their mission, this book is another resource they provide for Catholics worldwide to better understand the Gospel. 

All Souls Day

Photograph By Loci B. Lenar

Prayer of the Day for Saturday, November 2, 2013 - Catholic Online

Daily Prayer For The Holy Souls

Immortal God, holy Lord,
Father and Protector of all You have created,
we raise our hearts to You today for those
who have passed out of this mortal life.

In Your loving mercy, Father of all,
be pleased to receive them in Your heavenly company,
and forgive the failings and faults
they may have done from human frailty.

Your only Son, Christ, our Saviour,
suffered so cruelly that
He might deliver them from the second death.
By his merits may they share in the glory
of His victory over sin and death.

For all the faithful who have died we pray,
but in particular for those dear to us,
parents, relatives and friends.
nor do we forget all who did good to us while on earth,
who helped us by their prayers, sacrifice and example.
We pray also for any who may have done us harm,
and stand in special need of Your forgiveness.

May the merits and prayers of our Virgin Mother,
Mary, and those of all the Angels and Saints,
speak for us and assist them now.
This we ask in Christ's name.

Amen.

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The Cross of Reconcilation can be seen on the grounds of the National Blue Army Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Catholic shrine is situated in Warren County on Mountain View Road, Washington, NJ, USA. The shrine has the distinction of being known as the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

Photograph Copyright Loci B. Lenar
www.Christian-Miracles.com

Feast of All Saints

Feast of All Saints - Saints.SQPN.com

Instituted to honour all the saints, known and unknown. It owes its origin in the Western Church to the dedication of the Roman Pantheon in honuor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the martyrs by Pope Saint Boniface IV in 609, the anniversary of which was celebrated at Rome on 13 May. Pope Saint Gregory III consecrated a chapel in the Vatican basilica in honor of All Saints, designating 1 November as their feast. Pope Gregory IV extended its observance to the whole Church. It has a vigil and octave, and is a holy day of obligation; the eve is popularly celebrated as Hallowe’en.

(Image From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)