For anyone looking at their own sinfulness and wondering if God would be able to forgive them.

For anyone looking at their own sinfulness and wondering if God would be able to forgive them.

MESSAGE #1299 from Jesus December 18, 1997
 
 My child, In the end, I will be the judge, so be not bothered by how man sees you, for many judge according to their likes and dislikes.  Many criticize yet they know not the truth. This is a weakness that many need to work on in order to better themselves, for pride and a heart filled with hate will destroy one’s soul. Those who refuse to love their neighbor, allow evil to enter. Those who refuse to be humble are prideful. Satan loves a prideful man, because he knows he has but little time to pray because he’s too busy criticizing those whom he finds fault in.

Those who do not take time to pray will be tempted, for their focus will not be on Me. They instead will become distracted by what other people are doing. This happens because of curiosity, but in the end, gossip will be the result. Prayer is what will help one grow; not your pleasures, but how much you desire Me. Without prayer, one will not bear fruit, for one cannot be guided if they never take time for Me. One cannot be taught if they refuse to hear the truth.

I must warn you because Satan has many snares and if you are not strong, this is how you will fall into his web. The more trapped you become, the harder it will be to get free, for you then allow yourself to become distant from Me. So be not foolish, remain close to Me, for then I, your Lord, will protect you from the enemy. I will help you so you do not fall into sin. I will show you a better way so you learn how to cope in this world. I will give you the strength that you need to endure all trials. I will not leave you, for I will be ever so near.

I am merciful for those who try hard. I do not condemn, I forgive. I am able to do this because I am your merciful Lord. So come to Me, and allow Me to help you, for then you will never have to walk alone. Open your heart wider so that I can enter more fully. Surrender your ways, give them all to Me, for it is only I, your Lord, who knows you better than anyone else. I love you more than you can imagine. I yearn for you at all times. If you love Me, then give yourself totally to Me so that I can hold you in the palm of My hand.

Come now, don’t try to do it on your own, for you will not be able to survive on your own. I am waiting for each of you, so abandon yourself to Me. Peace will then be given to you, for it is I who will judge you, not man. For I am your Sovereign Lord, who cares deeply for you.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
—————————-
983 Catechesis strives to awaken and nourish in the faithful faith in the incomparable greatness of the risen Christ’s gift to his Church: the mission and the power to forgive sins through the ministry of the apostles and their successors:

— The Lord wills that his disciples possess a tremendous power: that his lowly servants accomplish in his name all that he did when he was on earth.

— Priests have received from God a power that he has given neither to angels nor to archangels . . . . God above confirms what priests do here below.

–  Were there no forgiveness of sins in the Church, there would be no hope of life to come or eternal liberation. Let us thank God who has given his Church such a gift.
Reading (Isaiah 1:10, 16-20)
———————-

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!  wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong,  learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.  “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.  If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
An Excerpt of a Homily by Fr. Robert Altier   Tuesday March 18, 2003
—————————————————–

In reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, we have a message of great hope for anyone who is a sinner, for anyone looking at their own sinfulness and wondering if God would be able to forgive them. We hear that God, speaking through Isaiah, uses the example of the princes of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah, two places of the Old Testament that would be known as the most sinful, as having the reputation of being the worst among the worst for what it is that they did. And so, having used that as the title that God is addressing to the people of Israel,

He then says, “Wash yourselves clean!” and tells them that even if their sins be like scarlet, He will make them white as wool, and if they are crimson red, He will make them white as snow. He is going to wipe them away; He is going to completely remove them; but, of course, it requires a couple of things on our part. He tells us that we have to put away our misdeeds, we have to cease doing evil, we need to learn to do good, to make justice the aim and redress the wrong, hear the orphan’s plea, and so on. So we have to begin to do what is right. It is not enough just to say, “Well, I know that it’s wrong, but so what?” We need to amend our lives; there is a necessity of change.

We have to be humble. “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted; whoever exalts himself will be humbled.” If we are humble, if we come before the Lord and confess our sins, if we have the intention to change our lives, then we can be guaranteed that we are going to be forgiven of our sins,  that it is not going to be an issue for us. It is something many people fear, thinking that God cannot forgive them, as though somehow their sins were bigger than God, which is a pure act of arrogance anyway, thinking that we can do something that is so big that not even God can handle it. We – in our puny, human, finite nature – think that we can do something greater than God – Who is all encompassing and infinite – it does not make a whole lot of sense. But even so, the devil is very shrewd and very subtle, and he lays these things before people to trip them up.

For those who struggle: that God is merciful, that He wants to forgive our sins. He wants to forgive our sins infinitely more than we want our sins forgiven, but He is also just and He is not simply going to wipe them out without any act on our part. He gave us a free will and we have to exercise that free will. So we have to repent of our sins; we have to intend to stop doing them.

We have to intend to amend our lives; we have to intend to change, to start doing what is right and stop doing what is wrong. Then it does not matter what the sin is. Think of the most hideous thing that you can imagine – it is as nothing for God. The worst sin we can commit is like a piece of dust by comparison to God’s infinite mercy.

To Reclaiming Your Children for the Catholic Faith on EWTN TV

Reclaiming Your Children for the Faith EWTN Video - Hosted by Fr. Robert J. Fox

Reclaiming Your Children for the Catholic Faith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fr. Robert J. Fox first wrote a book, Reclaiming Your Children for the Faith, and then Fr. Fox was approached by Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) to make a series for parents and grandparents, Fr. Fox adapted the 13 chapters into the TV series.

Watch on Weekdays July and August 2008
RECLAIMING YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE CATHOLIC FAITH

 

 

 

 

 

Watch RECLAIMING YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE CATHOLIC FAITH at 6 am EST on EWTN

  http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NA_072008.asp
————————————-
Tue July 22  Episode 1  Millions Don’t Practice 
Wed July 23  Episode 2  Do They Know What They Left Behind?
Thu July 24  Episode 3  Christ’s Real Presence Left Behind
Wed July 25  Episode 4  They Need to Know Their Roots

http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NA_072708.asp
————————————-
Mon July 28  Episode 5 Learning True Religion  
Tue July 29  Episode 6 The Catholic Family Sign of Contradiction  
Wed July 30  Episode 7 Worship Due God in Jesus Christ Forfeited  
Thu July 31  Episode 8 The Church of New Covenant – The Cross
Fri August 1  Episode 9 What to do when there are signs of Coming Home 

http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NA_080308.asp
————————————-
Mon August 4 Episode 10 Honesty – Interview of Little Mary “what the Blessed Mother is telling families that they should pray together”
Tue August 5 Episode 11 How to be prepared in your mission of Reclaiming
Wed August 6 Episode 12 Act Now The Opportunity May Not Come Again
Thu August 7 Episode 13 Forming Your Family Admist The Crisis Of Faith

Listen to EWTN MP3 Audio Archive Files
RECLAIMING YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE CATHOLIC FAITH
———————————————
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming01.mp3
http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming02.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming03.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming04.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming05.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming06.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming07.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming08.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming09.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming10.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming11.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming12.mp3

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/resolve.asp?audiofile=reclaiming13.mp3

 

Reclaiming Your Children for the Faith - Paperback book by Rev Robert J. Fox

This book is openly honest on failures which led to many abandoning the practice of Catholicism. If read by those who have left, the contents will be a great impetus to understanding how they may not have recognized the true faith of Catholicism. Others will recognize how some misrepresented the true faith. Those who left for moral reasons may be inspired to become moral now themselves. Parents will discover what happened to their children and what to do now.

“Any Catholic reading this book will come away stronger in the faith and filled with an evangelistic spirit”.

Chaplet of The Divine Mercy Chanting

Producer And Chief  Engineer: Timothy Chong    -
Recording Studio:  Studio 3 Productions  -
Additional Engineer: Trevor  Nerva   -
.
Music: Father Philip Pavich, Ofm
Cantors: Timothy Chong, Trevor Nerva   -
Additional Vocals: Peter P. H. Chua, Luke Fong
..
Studio 3 Productions Pte Ltd  Singapore

Since the loss of Timothy Chong his wife has work with
Wellsprings Catholic Books to make CD’s of Timothy’s
Chanting of the Divine Mercy

Timothy Chong Call to the Lord

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.wellsprings.com.sg/nzc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=227

Chanting Chaplet of Divine Mercy CD

“Come to Me”

“Come to Me”

MESSAGE #1633 from Jesus December 2, 1998

 

 My child, Be patient, for all that you do, you will be truly blessed. Be not worried for those who are not listening to these messages, for in time, all will know that these messages are the truth. For when one sees their soul, they will long to hear the truth. Their ears will then open and many will come running back to Church.

 

Be humble, My child, and just continue to pray for those who doubt in the many messages that have been given around this world, for many do not understand My Mother’s role on this earth. Just be glad and be thankful for those who come and listen with an open heart, for they will help you in times to come. They will be given much wisdom to help those who will come, in time.

 

Always remember that the last will be first and in time, all that one does for Me will not be unnoticed, for souls will be saved and one day you will all be together for all eternity. Remain obedient and humble, for this is how others will see Me working through you. Be truthful and sincere, for then more will hunger to hear My words. The harvest, My child, will then be bountiful and this army that My Mother is forming will be strong and ready for each new battle.

 

Many battles await those who persevere, but strength will always be given to you. I long to hear from each of you, so come, come to Me more often. Come to Me each new day so that I can help you become stronger in your faith. By coming to Me, My peace will remain in you. I am Jesus, Your Sovereign Lord. I am ever so near to those who allow Me to dwell in them.

 

My blessings are upon you, so go forth just as those prophets before you so that more will climb and take refuge in My Most Sacred Heart.

 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

 

260 The ultimate end of the whole divine economy is the entry of God’s creatures into the perfect unity of the Blessed Trinity. But even now we are called to be a dwelling for the Most Holy Trinity: “If a man loves me”, says the Lord, “he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him”:

 

    O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me forget myself entirely so to establish myself in you, unmovable and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing be able to trouble my peace or make me leave you, O my unchanging God, but may each minute bring me more deeply into your mystery! Grant my soul peace. Make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling and the place of your rest. May I never abandon you there, but may I be there, whole and entire, completely vigilant in my faith, entirely adoring, and wholly given over to your creative action.

 

 

Gospel (St. Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

 

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

 

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

 

“Bring them here to me,” he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

 

An Excerpt of a Homily by Fr. Robert Altier August 4, 2002

Only God Can Satisfy All Our Desires

 

The prophet Isaiah, speaking on behalf of God, says to the people of the Lord, “Come to the water, you who have no money; come, receive grain and eat. Drink wine and milk.” And he goes on to ask the question:  “Why do you spend your money for what fails to satisfy?“  “Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David”.

 

All of the things that we get ourselves into…why do we spend our time and our effort on so many things that cannot satisfy what the heart desires?

 

In the Gospel reading, Our Lord, looking around at all the people, says to His disciples, “They do not need to leave; give them something to eat yourselves.” The disciples do not understand what it is that He means; all they know is that they have only two fish and five loaves and there were probably well over 10,000 people there – 5,000 men not including women and children, it says. So one would have to assume that there were probably more women and children present than there were men, consequently, more than 10,000 people. The disciples, looking at all of these people, cannot imagine how they could feed them. But they did not understand what Our Lord was doing. They had been with Our Lord all day long and the Lord had been feeding them – spiritually. He had been giving them what it was that they needed. I think it is important to notice that the people were not complaining that they had not had anything to eat because their souls were filled.

 

What we need to learn how to do is put the soul first and what the soul needs.  And so the Lord is saying to each one of us, “Come to the water, the Holy Spirit. Come, receive grain and eat.” He is offering to us everything that the soul needs. That is why He asks, “Why do you spend your money for what fails to satisfy?”

 

And so the Lord says to us, “Come to Me heedfully and I will fill you.” Heed the voice of the Lord. Reject the stuff that leads you away from Christ; and the stuff that is good and necessary, use it with temperance. Learn how to say “no” to the desires of the flesh. Begin to mortify yourselves; start pulling back from these things.

 

Each one of us must make that choice individually for ourselves to set the priorities right; within ourselves, to put the soul before the body; and within the order of creation, to put the Creator before the creature. When the priorities are right, when we come to the Lord and listen to Him heedfully, then, and only then, will we be fulfilled.

Our Lady is calling us to take up the Rosary – to draw into our souls

Our Lady is calling us to take up the Rosary – to draw into our souls
the Graces of the Mysteries of the Life, Passion and Glory of Jesus Christ.

MESSAGE #2580 from the Blessed Mother January 23, 2004

My daughter, darker days will come if my children continue to choose darkness. Much more evil will enter this world if man refuses to repent and live a life that is pleasing to God. This world is truly in trouble because so many hearts have become cold. Cold hearts is what will bring destruction to this world. Violence and many more wars will arise if man does not repent and turn to God.

It is time now to get down on your knees and pray, pray more. It is pertinent that you join hands and pray the Rosary properly. If you meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, your prayers will truly come from your heart. I say to each of you, do not rush through your prayers. Meditate on each mystery of the Rosary so that your focus is on God. Do not just mumble words, think about what you are saying.

The Rosary will have a powerful effect on those who recite it faithfully. The Rosary has helped save many souls and it has had victory over many wars. There are many promises through praying the Rosary if you recite it properly. The Rosary is the weapon against Satan, so please do not ignore my heavenly pleas. Gather your family and pray it daily and you shall have peace. Gather in your Church and pray the Rosary from your hearts.

Make better use of this time and pray, pray more. Pray each new day. Pray for peace. Pray for your Priests, for Satan is truly attacking many. Pray for family unity, for there is much turmoil in many homes. Pray for this world so more wake up before it’s too late. Pray for those who are choosing darkness, for without a repentive heart, many will see the fire of hell. Many will truly suffer when God shakes this earth.

Now, please listen to my motherly requests and respond, respond now. Respond now, for time is short and many today need your prayers. Today is a day to fast and to pray, so please do your part so more repent and turn to God. Amen.

Gospel (St. Luke 1:26-38)

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

APOSTOLIC LETTER ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF

– Pope John Paul II

In the recitation of the Rosary, the Christian community enters into contact with the memories and the contemplative gaze of Mary.

By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed

Contemplating the scenes of the Rosary in union with Mary is a means of learning from her to “read” Christ, to discover his secrets and to understand his message.

By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection” In this process of being conformed to Christ in the Rosary, we entrust ourselves in a special way to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin. She who is both the Mother of Christ

Excerpts from a Homily by Fr. Robert Altier – Tuesday October 7, 2003

Our Lady is calling us to take up the Rosary, a simple prayer, but an exceedingly powerful prayer because it is using the very words of God Himself, it is using the words of the angel Gabriel, it is glorifying the Most Holy Trinity, it is praying for the conversion of sinners, it is acknowledging our Faith. Everything is there in this one beautiful prayer. And not only everything with the power in its words, but with its power in the mysteries of the life and the death and the resurrection and the glorification of our blessed Lord, so that we consider and meditate upon these mysteries of who we are and our dignity and the love of God for us as He brings us out of our sinfulness, making us His own children and calling us to eternity with Himself. The Rosary becomes in this way the ladder to heaven, as Jesus told Nathaniel that he would see “greater things than this, even the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” That is a mystery that takes place as we pray the Rosary. But more than that, it is the Rosary, I believe, which is spoken of in the Book of Revelation as the chain which will bind Satan and cast him into the abyss. If you want Satan to leave you and your family alone, take up the weapon, the weapon of peace, but the weapon which will crush the head of Satan – that is, our blessed Lady’s Rosary. She has made the promises. We have seen them over and over again, but for whatever reason we tend to not want to do what we are asked to do. In the meantime, the devil is destroying our families and he is infiltrating the Church and destroying the faith of many because they are not taking up this simple but exceedingly powerful prayer.

It is an interesting thing to note that every single saint, for the last however many generations and centuries, that has started a religious order has required that the nuns and the monks and the priests all pray the Rosary. It is not an option. I do not know any religious orders in their foundation that did not pray the Rosary. There are many religious these days who do not because, again, they are following the same pattern as everyone else. But all of the founders of religious orders require it. All of the saints require it and they talk about it. Now these are people with profound lives of prayer, and they recognize that the foundation and the mainstay of their prayer life is in many ways going to be found in our blessed Lady’s Rosary.

If the Mother of God is asking this of us, if God Himself is asking it of us, if the Church is asking it of us – there are more encyclical letters written by the Popes over the centuries on the Rosary than on any other topic – then we need to realize that the wisdom of the saints and the wisdom of the Church is directed at us that we need to recognize, like little children, the simplicity of this prayer and the love which we can pour into it and the power which flows from it. If your children have wandered from the Church, pray the Rosary. If your family is being torn apart, pray the Rosary. If you are struggling in your life, pray the Rosary. It is precisely the prayer that the angels pray. It is precisely the prayer that the saints have prayed. It is the prayer that Our Lady has asked us to pray, and Our Lady will be faithful to all the promises she has made in regard to the Rosary. We simply need to have that childlike trust and to take up our weapon, the weapon of peace, the weapon with the greatest power. If we can come before Our Lord – in the Blessed Sacrament, especially – with Rosary in hand, all things will be ours.

.

The Cost of Abortion

The Cost of Abortion

Some promo clips from  “The Cost of Abortion”. For more details, visit http://www.TheCostOfAbortion.com

The program The Cost of Abortion was produced by Saint Michael’s Media in 2008. Although Saint Michael’s Media is a religious organization, The Cost of Abortion is not in any way a religious program. It is a purely secular, economic program, addressing the problem of abortion in a direct way – how much does it cost?

Abortion in the United States of America

Abortion is part of the socio-political landscape of the United States, and a correct understanding of it is essential to correctly appreciate the impact it has on this country. People’s attitudes to abortion are of interest, as is the legality of abortion in the USA and the means used to justify it. The frequency of abortion in the USA is also significant.

This Wikipedia article is a good summation of the topic. [Live HMTL version] [Snapshot MHT HTML archive taken in June 2008].

 

 

What Abortion Really Is

 

Abortion is, put quite simply, the killing of an innocent human life who can do nothing to defend him or herself. In addition, the killing of the child is carried out on the orders of his or her parents – the very people who are supposed to defend their children.

Of course, to put abortion in such simple, black and white terms can be shocking to some – and many pro-abortion activists would disagree, saying that a child is not human or nor a person or does not possess rights, or some other such argument.

However, the truth of abortion is easy to see – especially when photographs or videos of actual abortions are watched. We have some of these available on this website. Such materials are shocking and may cause discomfort to watch. Those who wish to see them should click here.

Our Lady is calling us to take up the Rosary – to draw into our souls

Our Lady is calling us to take up the Rosary – to draw into our souls
the Graces of the Mysteries of the Life, Passion and Glory of Jesus
Christ.

MESSAGE #2580 from the Blessed Mother January 23, 2004

My daughter, Darker days will come if my children continue to choose
darkness. Much more evil will enter this world if man refuses to
repent and live a life that is pleasing to God. This world is truly
in trouble because so many hearts have become cold. Cold hearts is
what will bring destruction to this world. Violence and many more
wars will arise if man does not repent and turn to God.

It is time now to get down on your knees and pray, pray more. It is
pertinent that you join hands and pray the Rosary properly. If you
meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, your prayers will truly come
from your heart. I say to each of you, do not rush through your
prayers. Meditate on each mystery of the Rosary so that your focus is
on God. Do not just mumble words, think about what you are saying.

The Rosary will have a powerful effect on those who recite it
faithfully. The Rosary has helped save many souls and it has had
victory over many wars. There are many promises through praying the
Rosary if you recite it properly. The Rosary is the weapon against
Satan, so please do not ignore my heavenly pleas. Gather your family
and pray it daily and you shall have peace. Gather in your Church and
pray the Rosary from your hearts.

Make better use of this time and pray, pray more. Pray each new day.
Pray for peace. Pray for your Priests, for Satan is truly attacking
many. Pray for family unity, for there is much turmoil in many homes.
Pray for this world so more wake up before it’s too late. Pray for
those who are choosing darkness, for without a repentive heart, many
will see the fire of hell. Many will truly suffer when God shakes
this earth.

Now, please listen to my motherly requests and respond, respond now.
Respond now, for time is short and many today need your prayers.
Today is a day to fast and to pray, so please do your part so more
repent and turn to God. Amen.

Gospel (St. Luke 1:26-38)

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a
city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name
was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who
having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself
what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her:
Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son;
and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be
called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him
the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of
Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary
said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And
therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God.

Excerpts from – APOSTOLIC LETTER ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE OF THE
SUPREME PONTIFF – Pope John Paul II

In the recitation of the Rosary, the Christian community enters into
contact with the memories and the contemplative gaze of Mary.
By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm
and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the
mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was
closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these
mysteries are disclosed

Contemplating the scenes of the Rosary in union with Mary is a means
of learning from her to “read” Christ, to discover his secrets and to
understand his message.

By meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same
life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our
lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a
life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection” In
this process of being conformed to Christ in the Rosary, we entrust
ourselves in a special way to the maternal care of the Blessed
Virgin. She who is both the Mother of Christ

Excerpts from a Homily by Fr. Robert Altier – Tuesday October 7, 2003

Our Lady is calling us to take up the Rosary, a simple prayer, but an
exceedingly powerful prayer because it is using the very words of God
Himself, it is using the words of the angel Gabriel, it is glorifying
the Most Holy Trinity, it is praying for the conversion of sinners,
it is acknowledging our Faith. Everything is there in this one
beautiful prayer. And not only everything with the power in its
words, but with its power in the mysteries of the life and the death
and the resurrection and the glorification of our blessed Lord, so
that we consider and meditate upon these mysteries of who we are and
our dignity and the love of God for us as He brings us out of our
sinfulness, making us His own children and calling us to eternity
with Himself. The Rosary becomes in this way the ladder to heaven, as
Jesus told Nathaniel that he would see “greater things than this,
even the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
That is a mystery that takes place as we pray the Rosary.

But more than that, it is the Rosary, I believe, which is spoken of
in the Book of Revelation as the chain which will bind Satan and cast
him into the abyss. If you want Satan to leave you and your family
alone, take up the weapon, the weapon of peace, but the weapon which
will crush the head of Satan – that is, our blessed Lady’s Rosary.
She has made the promises. We have seen them over and over again, but
for whatever reason we tend to not want to do what we are asked to
do. In the meantime, the devil is destroying our families and he is
infiltrating the Church and destroying the faith of many because they
are not taking up this simple but exceedingly powerful prayer.

It is an interesting thing to note that every single saint, for the
last however many generations and centuries, that has started a
religious order has required that the nuns and the monks and the
priests all pray the Rosary. It is not an option. I do not know any
religious orders in their foundation that did not pray the Rosary.
There are many religious these days who do not because, again, they
are following the same pattern as everyone else. But all of the
founders of religious orders require it. All of the saints require it
and they talk about it. Now these are people with profound lives of
prayer, and they recognize that the foundation and the mainstay of
their prayer life is in many ways going to be found in our blessed
Lady’s Rosary.

If the Mother of God is asking this of us, if God Himself is asking
it of us, if the Church is asking it of us – there are more
encyclical letters written by the Popes over the centuries on the
Rosary than on any other topic – then we need to realize that the
wisdom of the saints and the wisdom of the Church is directed at us
that we need to recognize, like little children, the simplicity of
this prayer and the love which we can pour into it and the power
which flows from it. If your children have wandered from the Church,
pray the Rosary. If your family is being torn apart, pray the Rosary.
If you are struggling in your life, pray the Rosary. It is precisely
the prayer that the angels pray. It is precisely the prayer that the
saints have prayed. It is the prayer that Our Lady has asked us to
pray, and Our Lady will be faithful to all the promises she has made
in regard to the Rosary. We simply need to have that childlike trust
and to take up our weapon, the weapon of peace, the weapon with the
greatest power. If we can come before Our Lord – in the Blessed
Sacrament, especially – with Rosary in hand, all things will be ours.