Heart Relic of St. John Vianney to Visit Diocese of Oakland

St. John Vianney Stained Glass Window - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The Catholic Voice - An Online publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland

The following excerpt is from The Catholic Voice:

The heart of St. John Vianney, among the most renowned relics of the Catholic Church, will visit the Diocese of Oakland, CA, July 16 – 18, as part of a global tour during the Year for Priests which was proclaimed last summer by Pope Benedict XVI to mark the 150th anniversary of the acclaimed saint known as the patron of parish priests.

The relic will arrive from the Diocese of Stockton on July 16 for the first of three stops in the diocese. St. John Vianney Church, 1650 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek, will host the relic with Vespers at 7 p.m., a talk on the life of St. John Vianney at 8 p.m., followed by veneration until midnight. At 8:30 a.m. the following morning (July 17) Mass will be celebrated in the presence of the relic.

Then the relic will be transferred to Holy Spirit Church, 37588 Fremont Blvd. in Fremont, where prayers will be offered at noon, confessions at 3:30 p.m., Mass in the presence of the heart at 5 p.m. and a talk about the relic at 6:30 p.m. with veneration until midnight.

The relic’s third stop will be at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison St. in Oakland, on July 18. Mass will be celebrated in the presence of the relic at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Bishop Emeritus John Cummins will be the principal celebrant at the 10 a.m. liturgy. A talk on the priesthood is scheduled at 7 p.m., followed by veneration until midnight. The relic will depart for France, the homeland of the saint, on July 19.

Jean-Marie Vianney was born near Lyons, France, in 1786, the son of a farmer.

He died on Aug. 4, 1859, at the age of 73 and was canonized in 1925. Pope Pius X proposed St. John Vianney as a model for parish priests in 1929.

When his body was exhumed in 1904 as part of the process of canonization it was found to be incorrupt, meaning that his remains did not show signs of typical decay despite not being artificially preserved.

His body rests above the altar at the basilica in Ars. His heart is enclosed in a gold reliquary that is normally kept in a separate building called the Shrine of the Cure’s Heart.

Nick Vujicic: Life Without Limbs

Nick Vujicic: Life Without Limbs - CBN.com @ Yahoo! Video

He was born without arms nor legs. However, God is using Nick Vujicic to share the gospel around the world.

Book about Angels a Bestseller

Lorna Byrne

The following excerpt from FoxNews.com is about Lorna Byrne's new book, Angels in My Hair:

Author Sees Angels, and Her Book's a Bestseller

By Lauren Green

They are messengers from God, heavenly beings without material bodies, spiritual envoys carrying out God's will.

They are angels. And according to Lorna Byrne, everyone has one -- a guardian angel who’s always with you and will never leave you. She says they are “the gatekeepers of your soul.”

She knows this, she says, because all her life she's been surrounded by them and has talked to them. Her book, Angels in My Hair, recounts her lifelong experiences with angels directing her and teaching her.

Byrne's story begins with the telling of her toddler years, when the angels told her that her tiny playmate was the brother who had died before she was born.

"We actually touched while playing blocks," says the Irish-born Byrne, who is a practicing Catholic. "When I touched his, arm it sparkled, my hands went through his into mine. I was two and a half."

Whether the public believes Byrne's angel accounts is up to them. But the popularity of her book illustrates the fascination people have with these mystical beings. Her tome is an international bestseller, translated into 20 languages. Doubleday reportedly paid a six-figure advance for the U.S. publishing rights.

But this diminutive, mild-mannered 57-year old, who grew up dyslexic, says it's a miracle that she has even written a book. She says it was a directive from an angel she calls Michael, who she says is the archangel talked about in the Bible.

“When I was a child, the angels said I would write a book and tell people about God. After I had my first child, the angel Michael came up behind me and said, ‘It’s now time to write that book.'”

She believes she was told to write in order to give people hope that there is life beyond this material world. That we don’t just die and rot, but have an eternal soul.

To read the complete story, visit the following link: FoxNews.com

New Fatima Movie Being Released

The following information is provided by the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA, invites you to a sneak peek of the New Fatima Movie: Fatima Movie Trailer

The newly released "Fatima" is the quintessential movie on Our Heavenly Mother's appearance in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Leading experts in theology, history and science thoroughly examine all aspects of the Fatima Message in this compelling documentary.

Relatives and close friends tell us the story of how the seers received the Message from Heaven that Pope John Paul II declared, "More Important Now than Ever." Confidant to Sister Lucia, and world renowned Fatima authors and speakers join together to illustrate Heaven's plan for the Salvation of Souls and World Peace.

Recently discovered film of an eyewitness to the Miracle of the Sun provides an authentic description of what took place as 70,000 people watched in awe. You will gain further insight into God's Miracle as it is scientifically explained through the prism of Quantum Physics. A distinguished Medical Doctor applies science to the Power of Prayer. Additionally, the truth behind Fatima's Prophesies and Three Secrets are revealed through a close examination of historical events.

This groundbreaking film will help you understand the cause of the current state of the world and more importantly, how our freewill will determine our future. The World Apostolate of Fatima, a Pontifical Association, is the consultant for Fatima.

The Fatima Movie is available for purchase online at: Fatima Gift Shop or call the Gift Shop at 908-689-3590.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary by Stephen B. Whatley

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Oil on Canvas

By Stephen B. Whatley

Commentary By Loci B. Lenar

The Christian artwork of Stephen B. Whatley is not only colorful, but also refreshing. He communicates a contemporary interpretation of religious faith through brilliant brush strokes of pastel colors that are attention-grabbing. His artwork is indeed quite stunning!

Stephen's art has appeared in numerous publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today. The new painting in my opinion is an exquisite contemporary portrayal of The Immaculate Heart of Mary.

***

The Immaculate Heart of Mary by Stephen B. Whatley on Flickr - Photo Sharing

By Stephen B. Whatley

The Feast Day of The Immaculate Heart of Mary was commemorated on June 12, 2010. On that special day, I created a new painting with deep prayer.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary symbolises the joys, sorrows and love for God and the Son Jesus by the Mother of God.

Traditionally, in artistic images, Mary has been portrayed presenting her heart circled by roses, symbolising love; and white roses at that, to signify the purity of that love.

As with all my Christian paintings, I felt compelled, drawn by my faith to celebrate the beauty and tenderness of the love and sorrow of this Divine Mother.

Earlier I had been reading about the miraculous visions of the Mother of God who first appeared to six teenagers in 1981; and for several years thereafter in Medugorje, a small town in Bosnia, Herzecovina. Mary's message was that she was the Queen of Peace for which she encouraged prayer.

She was said to be about twenty years of age, with dark hair, blue eyes and of olive complexion with reddish cheeks - and her voice was said to be musical. Bearing this in mind and passing my eye over various interpretations, I ultimately let prayer dictate the path of this new tribute.

Copyright 2010 Stephen B. Whatley

Spreading News of Angels

The Church of St. Michael, Netcong, NJ

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

ZENIT - Spreading News of Angels

The following excerpt regarding angels is by Alfonso Sarno:

Father Marcello Stanzione, the founder of Militia of St. Michael the Archangel, promotes an annual theological-pastoral conference on angelology. Bit by bit, Father Stanzione has obtained a seriousness and credibility recognized internationally.

Father Stanzione is hoping the Holy Father will convoke a year in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, and that the tradition of praying to the angel after Mass will be re-established.

"He can do everything," Father Stanzione affirmed, referring to the archangel.