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.

***
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)

Pope Francis ranks among Forbes' most powerful people

News from RomeReports.com

Who are the most powerful people in the world? According to Forbes magazine, first on the list is Russia's president, then the United States followed by China. Fourth on the list is Pope Francis.  

So Vladimir Putin takes the number one slot, then Barack Obama, followed by the Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. 

Forbes magazine explains that since Pope Francis was elected in March, a new wave of energy was given to Catholicism, the world's largest religion with over 1.2 billion people. The magazine notes that Pope Francis also has a presence in social media. On Twitter alone, he already has over 10 million followers. He's also the first Pope to have taken a picture of himself with a cell phone. 

The ranking places the Latin American pope above others political and financial leaders like Angela Merkel and Bill Gates.

Our Lady's Monthly Message to Visionary Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti

Medjugorje WebSite - Our Lady of Medjugorje Messages and Apparitions

Latest Medjugorje Message of October 25, 2013

“Dear children! Today I call you to open yourselves to prayer. Prayer works miracles in you and through you. Therefore, little children, in the simplicity of heart seek of the Most High to give you the strength to be God’s children and for Satan not to shake you like the wind shakes the branches. Little children, decide for God anew and seek only His will – and then you will find joy and peace in Him. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

(Photograph From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Sister Antonia Brenner dies at 86; nun moved into Tijuana prison to tend to inmates

Sister Antonia Brenner consoles inmate Jorge Villalobos - Los Angeles Times Photo

News Excerpt  from LaTimes.com

By Richard Marosi

Guards and inmates in La Mesa penitentiary referred to Brenner as the prison angel. In the cellblocks she was known as 'Mama.'

Sister Antonia Brenner, a Beverly Hills-raised mother of seven who became a Roman Catholic nun and moved into a notorious Tijuana prison where she spent more than three decades mending broken lives, easing tensions and dispensing everything from toothbrushes to bail money, has died. She was 86.

In 1977, after her children were grown and two marriages had ended in divorce — a source of sadness that she rarely talked about — Brenner gave away her expensive clothes and belongings, left her Ventura apartment and moved to La Mesa penitentiary. She had delivered donations in the past to the prison, each visit filling her with compassion.

"Something happened to me when I saw men behind bars. … When I left, I thought a lot about the men. When it was cold, I wondered if the men were warm; when it was raining, if they had shelter," Brenner told The Times in a 1982 interview. "I wondered if they had medicine and how their families were doing. …You know, when I returned to the prison to live, I felt as if I'd come home."

Small of stature, with blue eyes peeking out from under her traditional black–and-white habit, Brenner cut a strikingly serene presence in the overcrowded prison of 8,000. She lived as any other inmate, sleeping in a 10-by-10-foot cell, eating the same food and lining up for morning roll call.

She would walk freely among thieves and drug traffickers and murderers, smiling, touching cheeks and offering prayers. Many were violent men with desperate needs. She kept extra toilet paper in her cell, arranged for medical treatment, attended funerals.

A revered figure in Tijuana, where she counted police chiefs and politicians among her friends, Brenner was honored with the naming of a street after her outside the prison. In the late 1990s, she established her own religious order, the Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour. Tijuana Archbishop Rafael Romo said she possessed the qualities of a saint and said her death was a "terrible loss" for the city, the Tijuana newspaper Frontera reported.

Read More: Sister Antonia Brenner

Blessed Angela of Foligno is declared a Saint by Pope Francis

News story from RomeReports.com

The Vatican announced that Blessed Angela of Foligno has been declared a saint by Pope Francis. The 13th century mystic writer was born in Umbria back in 1248. After experiencing a powerful religious conversion, she recorded her journey in a publication titled: 'Book of Visions and Instructions.'   

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints made the official announcement on Friday, but Angela of Foligno was declared a saint by Pope Francis on October 9th, 2013.

Read more: Angela of Foligno

Feast of the Guardian Angels (October 2)

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Please give thanks to God for His angelic protection as we honor our guardian angel on this special day!

Daily Prayer to Guardian Angel

Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide.

Amen


Regarding angels, one of the most dramatic stories of God's angelic protection is found in Scripture, the Acts of the Apostles.

About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the people he proceeded to arrest Peter also. It was the feast of Unleavened Bread. He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayers by the church was fervently made to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandels" He did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting." Acts 12:1-11

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

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

The Angels Are Our Invisible Friends

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

News excerpt from National Catholic Register

September 29th is the Feast Day of the Archangels

By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

"Make friends with the angels, who, though invisible, are always with you. ... Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs." So encouraged St. Francis de Sales.

 

And as the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, "The Church venerates the angels who help her on her earthly pilgrimage and protect every human being" (352).

 

How blessed we are to be so close to angels. From our birth and all throughout our lives, marvelously, an invisible companion has taken a personal interest in us and our salvation: our guardian angel.

 

St. Basil the Great reassures us, "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life." Yet, so often, we forget all about the presence of these mysterious creatures — the angels — simply because we can’t see them.

Read more: The Angels Are Our Invisible Friends

Our Lady's Message of September 25, 2013

The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Monthly Message from Our Lady to Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti

"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May your relationship with prayer be a daily one. Prayer works miracles in you and through you, therefore, little children, may prayer be a joy for you. Then your relationship with life will be deeper and more open and you will comprehend that life is a gift for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Mary of Nazareth

News release and video from MaryFilm.com:

MARY OF NAZARETH is an epic new motion picture on the life of Mary, mother of Christ, from her childhood through the Resurrection of Jesus.

This full-length feature film about the life of Our Lady, shot in English in High Definition, was filmed in Europe in very authentic locales with outstanding cinematography, a strong cast, and a majestic music score . Actress Alissa Jung gives a beautiful, compelling and inspired portrayal of Mary. Pope Benedict XVI had the opportunity to screen this film in the Apostolic Palace, and was touched by the portrayal of Mary so movingly revealed on film.

The film vividly captures the essence of Mary’s profound faith and trust in God amidst the great mysteries that she lived with as the Mother of the Messiah, her compassionate humanity and concern for others, and the deep love that she and Jesus shared for one another. This movie underscores her special role in God’s plan for our redemption, her unique relationship with Christ, and the tremendous suffering that she endured in union with his passion and death, as well as her serene joy at his Resurrection.

Directed by acclaimed European film director Giacomo Campiotti (BAKHITA, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, ST. GIUSEPPE MOSCATI) and written by Francesco Arlanch (RESTLESS HEART, PIUS XII, POPE JOHN PAUL II), in addition to the luminous performance by Jung, the film provides inspiring portrayals of all the main roles, including Andreas Pietschmann as Jesus, Luca Marinelli as Joseph, Paz Vega as Mary Magdalene and Antonia Liskova as Herodias. The original music score was written  by Guy Farley.

Originally a 200-minute film, it has been edited down to 153 minutes for the theatrical release.
MARY OF NAZARETH will become available for sponsored screenings in theaters through Ignatius Press and Carmel Communications beginning  October 1, 2013. Don’t miss your chance to bring the life of the Mother of Christ to a theater in your town during this limited engagement!

To sponsor a screening of this film, call the following number: 1-770-591-0045

ROME REPORTS releases a special program about John Paul II's miracle

News from RomeReports.com

There's a miracle behind this face. On April 8th 2011, Floribeth Mora woke up with a headache so strong she had to be taken to the emergency room.

FLORIBETH MORA 

“I was hospitalized. They told me I had a brain hemorrhage.” 

The doctors didn't have good news for Floribeth's husband. They told him her days were limited. But that was before John Paul II came into the picture. Now, in a special program produced by ROME REPORTS, they share the human drama they went through and the unexpected outcome of their story. A heartwarming and emotional story that saved her life and paved the way towards John Paul II's canonization.  

EDWIN ARCE, Floribeth's husband

“I try not to remember those difficult moments because they were filled with pain.” 

FLORIBETH MORA 

“Then, I suddenly hear a voice in my room that tells me: 'Rise.' I got up and went into the kitchen, where my husband asked me what I was doing. I told him: 'I feel fine.'” 

Now, TV channels from around the world will be able to air the emotional story of John Paul II's miracle narrated by those who were directly affected.