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Fr. Jozo Speaking at the 2004 Medjugorje Youth Festival
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God's Word Among Us
“Is divorce ever permissible?” the Pharisees ask. Jesus reminds them that God intends for marriage to be not only permanent but transformative as well. Its goal, he answers, is that a man and a woman leave their individuality aside and come together to create a whole new unity, a family.
Hearing this exchange, his disciples offer an honest and understandable response: If it’s so hard, maybe it would be better not to marry at all. Jesus gazes at them with a sad smile. Do you think it’s easier to make a permanent commitment to being single? he asks. Not on your life!
Neither is it easy to live single while remaining open to marriage.
The truth is, living any state of life as God intended is challenging. Circumstances change, and we scramble to adjust. In one way or another we all fail to live up to God’s ideal. We all fail God, our spouse or our religious community from time to time. This doesn’t mean we chose the wrong vocation. It simply means that we have momentarily forgotten how much we need to depend on God’s abundant grace. Fidelity in marriage or singleness is only possible because God is faithful: faithful to guide us, faithful to sustain us, faithful to forgive us.
Look at the refrain for today’s Psalm: “His mercy endures forever.” God expresses it in many different ways at many different moments, but he is always faithful. His enduring mercy is the very thing we need in order to be faithful.
Spend some time today considering your vocation. Thank God for the call he has given you. Thank him, too, for being faithful to you as you strive to live out that call. Then ask him to show you one particular way to express your faithfulness today. Maybe it’s a little note of encouragement and love for your spouse. Maybe it’s a gesture of support to a brother priest or a sister religious who is going through a rough patch. Maybe God will show you something you are free to do because you haven’t arrived at a place of permanent commitment. Whatever it is, rejoice and do it!
“Father, you are always faithful. Thank you for inviting and enabling me to live out a noble, heavenly vocation.”
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Bishop Tobin is now a Republican
RI’s Bishop Tobin is now a registered Republican
Holds up his baptismal certificate
August 16, 201312 Comments
Bishop Tobin
Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence Thomas Tobin revealed Tuesday night that he recently became a registered Republican, but he also emphasized that the church and its mission shouldn’t be viewed through a narrowly partisan lens.
“The a-ha moment for me was the 2012 Democratic National Convention. It was just awful,” Tobin, 65, told the Rhody Young Republicans during an event at the Holy Rosary Band Society Hall in Providence. The leader of Rhode Island’s roughly 621,000 Catholics said he had been a registered Democrat since 1969.
“I just said I can’t be associated structurally with that group, in terms of abortion and NARAL [Pro-Choice America] and Planned Parenthood and [the] same-sex marriage agenda and cultural destruction I saw going on,” Tobin said. “I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
Tobin switched his affiliation to the Republican Party effective Jan. 5, according to voter records reviewed by WPRI.com. He is registered to vote from a house on the 140-acre grounds of the diocese’s Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Providence.
“I’ve changed my party registration now, but the fact is that the registration itself doesn’t mean a whole lot to me,” Tobin said.
About 60 people who attended Tobin’s nearly two-hour discussion on faith and politics gave him a standing ovation before and after he spoke. He made the disclosure about his affiliation by holding up two pieces of paper – his letter from the East Providence Board of Canvassers confirming his Republican affiliation, and his baptismal certificate.
“My thesis tonight is that the two of these are related, and can be related very comfortably, and frankly if I had to choose between the two – between my party affiliation and my baptismal record – this is the one that will bring me to eternal life,” Tobin said, pointing to his certificate of baptism.
“Would Jesus be a Democrat or a Republican, a liberal or a conservative?” Tobin asked. “I’m going to punt on that question and say: all of the above and none of the above. Labeling Jesus or labeling the church or labeling me depends on the particular issue.”
Pope John Paul II appointed Tobin as the eighth Bishop of Providence just three days before the late pontiff’s death in April 2005. He could be a part of Rhode Island public life for many years to come: bishops are not required to submit their resignations to the pope until they turn 75, which for Tobin will not happen until 2023….
To read the entire report, click here.
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Saved from abortion, Chilean twin brothers are now priests
“How can I not defend the God of life?” said Fr. Paulo Lizama. “This event strengthened my vocation and gave it a specific vitality, and therefore, I was able to give myself existentially to what I believe.”
“I am convinced of what I believe, of what I am and of what I speak, clearly by the grace of God,” he told CNA.
Fr. Paulo and his identical twin brother, Fr. Felipe, were born in 1984 in the Chilean town of Lagunillas de Casablanca.
Before discovering her pregnancy, their mother, Rosa Silva, had exposed herself to x-rays while performing her duties as a paramedic. Consequently, after confirming the pregnancy, her doctor conducted ultrasounds and informed her that he had seen “something strange” in the image.
“The baby has three arms and its feet are sort of entangled. It also has two heads,” he told her.
Although abortion for “therapeutic” reasons was legal at the time in Chile and doctors told her that her life was in danger, Rosa opposed the idea and said she would accept whatever God would send her.
“The Lord worked and produced a twin pregnancy. I don’t know if the doctors were wrong or what,” Fr. Felipe said.
“I always think with special affection and tenderness in the heart of my mother who gave her life for me, for us,” Fr. Paolo added.
The two brothers were born on Sept. 10, 1984. Felipe was born first, and when the placenta would not detach, doctors suggested scraping her womb. Silva refused however, saying she felt another baby was coming out. Paulo was born 17 minutes later.
“This last detail is very significant for me,” Fr. Paulo said. “The doctors inserted instruments to remove the placenta because it wouldn’t come out. My mother knew that I was there. I was late, but I came out.” Had doctors scraped his mother’s womb, he would likely have been “gravely injured.”
The twins learned about the circumstances of their birth when they were in the sixth year of seminary formation.
“It was surely the wisdom of my mother and her heart that allowed us to learn of such an amazing event at the right time,” Fr. Paulo said, reflected that while he had always thought his priestly vocation came during adolescence, he later realized that God was working in his life from the beginning, thanks to the ‘yes’ of his mother.
Although they grew up in a Catholic home, the Lizama brothers drifted away from the faith and stopped attending Mass. However, their parents’ separation and divorce led them back to the Church, and they received the sacrament of Confirmation.
At the time, Fr. Paulo said, he lacked conviction in his faith but was attracted by the Blessed Sacrament, Gregorian chant, and the silent reverence of prayer.
Fr. Felipe said he was drawn to God through a priest, Fr. Reinaldo Osorio, who would later become his formation director at the seminary.
“God was calling me. I realized that it was in God and in the things of God that I was happy, there was no doubt: I wanted to be a priest,” he recalled.
Despite being close, the two brothers did not talk about their vocations with each other.
“I don’t know who felt the call first,” Fr. Paulo said. “I think God did things the right way in order to safeguard the freedom of our response.”
In March 2003, they both entered the seminary. While it was difficult for the family to accept the brothers’ decision at first, their mother told them after the first year of formation that she was at peace, realizing that they were happy.
The twins were ordained priests on April 28, 2012, and celebrated their first Mass at Our Lady of Mercies in Lagunillas.
Now, a year after their ordination, Fr. Felipe serves at the parish of Saint Martin of Tours in Quillota, and Fr. Paulo serves at the parish of the Assumption of Mary in Achupallas.
“God doesn’t mess around with us. He wants us to be happy, and the priesthood is a beautiful vocation and that makes us completely happy,” Fr. Felipe said.
Following Jesus is not easy but it is beautiful, added Fr. Paulo.
“Jesus, the Church and the world need us,” he explained. “But they don’t need just any young person: they need young people empowered by the truth of God, so that their very lives convey life, their smiles convey hope, their faces convey faith and their actions convey love.”
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Children Of Medjugorje
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Here are a few details about her: Milena was born in the country side near Tihaljina. Her parents sold vegetables and their lives were difficult under Communism. In those days, people had to work hard to survive. At an early age, Milena spent hours after school outdoors herding the sheep. She had a great thirst for God and was enamored with the silence of nature, which is so beautiful in that region. Her time in solitude was spent talking to God and reading the Bible. She felt very close to Heaven, and was already envisioning her future as a consecrated person. 
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Daily Grace: Lonely Writer’s Song
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Vicka Brings the Apparitions to Israel
by Jakob Marschner
Participating in an international pilgrimage, visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic came to Israel on August 19. For a week, she will have public apparitions in The Holy Land. Vicka climbs Mount Tabor on Tuesday when her apparition takes place in Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation.
Vicka in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on August 19, with Fr. Petar Ljubicic (second from left), Oasis of Peace community founder Fr. Gianni Sgreva (third), and Maranatha coordinator Sabrina Covic-Radojicic (far left)
Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic arrived in The Holy Land on Monday, landing in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport in the evening. Until August 27, she will participate in the first international Maranatha pilgrimage and prayer meeting for the intention of humanity’s healing.
Vicka continued to Nazareth and will climb Mount Tabor on Tuesday morning, along with 550 pilgrims from 13 countries. In the evening, her apparition will take place in Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation where Mass will be presided over by the local Bishop Marcuzzo. He will concelebrate with Archbishop André Leonard of Brussels, Belgium, the head of the Maranatha movement.
Vicka in the airport on August 19
Vicka has been to the Holy Land before but this is the first time a Medjugorje apparition has been allowed to take place inside churches there, a fact she joyfully acknowledged when reminded on Monday by Charbel Maroun, the President of the Marian Movement in Galilee. He and his co-workers have been hard at work to obtain the permissions.
From Medjugorje, also present is Fr. Petar Ljubicic, the Franciscan priest chosen by visionary Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo to reveal to the world the 10 prophetic secrets Mirjana says the Virgin Mary has entrusted to her.
Source http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/
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Medjugorje Youth Festival finished with Holy Mass
The 24th International Youth Festival finished with Holy Mass on Cross Mountain
06.08.2013 The 24th International Youth Festival that began on Thursday, August 1, 2013 finished on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 with Holy Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated at 5 a.m. on the top of Cross Mountain by Fr. Danko Perutina, coordinator of this meeting.Dozens of thousands of young people gathered in Medjugorje this year and they came from 60 different countries. The programme of the Youth Festival would start at 9 a.m. with the Morning Prayer and would continue with lectures, testimonies and lessons from Christian life throughout the rest of the day. The evening prayer programme would begin at 6 p.m. with Rosary and the central event of every day was Holy Mass at 7 p.m. The opening Holy Mass was celebrated by the Provincial of Herzegovina Franciscan Province, Dr. Fr. Miljenko Steko. Every other night, four newly ordained priests were the main celebrants: Fr. Stanko Cosic, Fr. Mario Ostojic, Fr. Josip Serdjo Cavar and Fr. Mijo Sarcevic, while the homilies were given by their older brothers: Fr. Slaven Brekalo, Fr. Petar Ljubicic, Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic and Fr. Danko Perutina. The largest number of priests who have concelebrated at those Holy Masses was on Thursday, when 515 of them were present.(foto) ; (video)
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THE REST OF MY LIFE
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| Jesus I Trust In You |
"When those hired late in the afternoon came up they received a full day's pay." -Matthew 20:9
Maybe you have wasted your life in "doing your own thing." Now that you have given your life to Jesus, you don't want "to spend what remains of your earthly life on human desires but on the will of God. Already you have devoted enough time to what the pagans enjoy" (1 Pt 4:2-3).
Nevertheless, you feel sad that it's taken you this long to begin to live. The Lord wants to change your sorrow into joy (see Ps 30:12) by assuring you that He will give you a full-day's pay even if you've only worked for Him a very short time (Mt 20:14). The Lord "will repay you for the years which the locust has eaten" (Jl 2:25), that is, for the wasted years of life. The Lord in His mercy often saves the best for last, as He did at the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:10). So "give no thought to what lies behind but push on to what is ahead" (Phil 3:13).
The Lord has died to atone for your past, so forget about it. Thank Him you have the privilege of living for Him in the present. Make the following promise: "For the rest of my life, I will serve the Lord alone, in every way, with all my heart."
Father, thank You for life, Your forgiveness, the present, and the rest of my life. I give it to You.
"Thus the last shall be first and the first shall be last." -Mt 20:16
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Vicka in Isreal
Vicka's Apparition in Isreal
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Article 2
Come Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the glory of God that is all around me. Help me to see Jesus with the eyes of faith so that I can become his witness.
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Our Lady's Medjugorje message of August 25, 2013 to Marija
"Dear children! Also today, the Most High is giving me the grace to be with you and to lead you towards conversion. Every day I am sowing and am calling you to conversion, that you may be prayer, peace, love - the grain that by dying will give birth a hundredfold. I do not desire for you, dear children, to have to repent for everything that you could have done but did not want to. Therefore, little children, again, with enthusiasm say: 'I want to be a sign to others.' Thank you for having responded to my call."
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Thousands Attend Bethlehem Apparition
by Jakob Marschner
Massive turnout of people witnessed visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic’s public apparition in an auditorium in Bethlehem on August 25. Three days before, the atmosphere was more private during apparition in the biblical Gethsemane Garden. Vicka returns to Medjugorje on Monday.
![medjugorje visionary seer veggente vicka ivankovic mijatovic apparition holy land bethlehem israel palestine august 25 agosto 2013 maranatha pilgrimage]()
Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic’s public apparition in the auditorium of Terra Sancta College for Boys in Bethlehem on Sunday was attended by thousands, Medjugorje Brasil editor Gabriel Paulino tells Medjugorje Today from Bethlehem.
The apparition in Bethlehem was the last public one during Vicka’s week-long stay with the first international Maranatha pilgrimage. She will return to Medjugorje on Monday.
![medjugorje visionary seer veggente vicka ivankovic mijatovic apparition garden gethsemane august 22 agosto 2013 israel holy land pilgrimage maranatha]()
On August 22, only the 550 pilgrimage participants were present at Vicka’s apparition in the biblical Garden of Gethsemane.
In between, Vicka’s apparition on August 23 took place in St. Anthony’s Church in Jaffa. Jerusalem lent ground to the apparition on August 24 which took place in private.
“But Vicka told me that during the appariton on August 24, Our Lady blessed all of us and asked us to “pray for the heart of the Church, and for the entire Church” Gabriel Paulino tells Medjugorje Today.
To be updated with more details
source http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/
Massive turnout of people witnessed visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic’s public apparition in an auditorium in Bethlehem on August 25. Three days before, the atmosphere was more private during apparition in the biblical Gethsemane Garden. Vicka returns to Medjugorje on Monday.
Vicka during her apparition in Bethlehem. Far left Fr. Petar Ljubicic, with local organizer Charbel Maroun in the middle. Photo: Jeries Photography / Facebook
Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic’s public apparition in the auditorium of Terra Sancta College for Boys in Bethlehem on Sunday was attended by thousands, Medjugorje Brasil editor Gabriel Paulino tells Medjugorje Today from Bethlehem.
The apparition in Bethlehem was the last public one during Vicka’s week-long stay with the first international Maranatha pilgrimage. She will return to Medjugorje on Monday.
Vicka during the apparition in the Garden of Gethsemane. Photo: Gabriel Paulino / Medjugorje Brasil
On August 22, only the 550 pilgrimage participants were present at Vicka’s apparition in the biblical Garden of Gethsemane.
In between, Vicka’s apparition on August 23 took place in St. Anthony’s Church in Jaffa. Jerusalem lent ground to the apparition on August 24 which took place in private.
“But Vicka told me that during the appariton on August 24, Our Lady blessed all of us and asked us to “pray for the heart of the Church, and for the entire Church” Gabriel Paulino tells Medjugorje Today.
To be updated with more details
source http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/
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Every Fourth Holy Land Christian Saw Vicka
by Jakob Marschner
Organizers estimate that visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic met a quarter of the Christian population during her one-week stay in Israel and Palestine. Devotion to prayer was revived and will continue, priest says. Mary assured attendees that she and Jesus never left The Holy Land.
![medjugorje visionary veggente seer vicka ivankovic mijatovic apparition apparizione bethlehem august 25 agosto 2013 maranatha pilgrimage]()
Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic was seen and heard by 25 percent of the Christian population during her August 19-26 stay in The Holy Land, organizers of the first international Maranatha pilgrimage are estimating.
“I am completely satisfied with the response. Having Vicka with us here fulfills my dream. Today, Medjugorje is present in every Christian family and community in The Holy Land. People are asking questions about how to connect to the Maranatha Movement for the healing of humanity. I do not have words to describe my feelings” Maranatha world coordinator Sabrina Covic-Radojicic tells the Croatian daily Vecernji List.
![medjugorje seer visionary vicka ivankovic mijatovic bethlehem august 25 agosto 2013 apparition maranatha pilgrimage]()
Vicka returned to Medjugorje on Monday, also very much pleased with the events of the week.
“I am overjoyed. I have been in the Holy Land before, but I never could bring Our Lady’s message. I do not know why I could not, only God knows. Obviously it was time for people to hear. But, behold, the time has come. People have heard and will hear the message. But this should not stop here, prayer for the healing of people should continue. More than ever, humanity needs prayer” Vicka tells the Croatian paper.
![medjugorje visionary seer veggente vicka ivankovic mijatovic visit maelia israel holy land august 21 agosto 2013 maranatha pilgrimage]()
And devotion to prayer will continue, says Fr. Nadeem Shakouri, the pastor of Maelia where Vicka’s apparition was attended by about 13,000 people on August 21.
“I am delighted. Only the Lord could muster this crowd. I thank Him for the gift of Vicka’s arrival. It gives us hope that peace is possible in these regions. He asks us to continue to pray not only during Vicka’s stay in the Holy Land, but also after her departure. Pray for all the sick hearts awaiting recovery, and for all who witnessed these precious days and who will themselves become carriers of the messages” Fr. Shakouri tells Vecernji List.
![medjugorje visionary seer veggente vicka ivankovic mijatovic talk apparition bethlehem august 25 agosto 2013 pilgrimage maranatha]()
The priest was further uplifted by the message the Virgin Mary passed on from the apparition in Maelia.
“Our Lady’s message today encourages us because she told the faithful of the Holy Land that she has been with us all the time with her Son, and that they never left. We believers from Galilee will never forget these days. In her honor we bless the statue which we brought from Medjugorje one month ago, that we will be constantly reminded of this day” says Fr. Shakouri.
![With Latin Patriarch far right, Vicka's visit united the highest ranking clerics in The Holy Land. Photo: Jozo Ivankovic / Facebook]()
On August 24, Fouad Boutros Ibrahim Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, ”expressed his fraternal hospitality” and thanked for the devotion to recollection and prayer, and for the joy offered to all who met Vicka whom he welcomed to The Holy Land, Vecernji List further reports.
Both he and Elias Shakouri, the Bishop of the Melkite Catholic Church, were invited by Maranatha organizers to participate in the international Youth Festival in Medjugorje next year, Maranatha world coordinator Sabrina Covic-Radojicic informs.
source http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/
Organizers estimate that visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic met a quarter of the Christian population during her one-week stay in Israel and Palestine. Devotion to prayer was revived and will continue, priest says. Mary assured attendees that she and Jesus never left The Holy Land.
Vicka greets the crowd of about 10,000 people in Bethlehem on August 25. Photo: Jeries Photography / Facebook
Medjugorje visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic was seen and heard by 25 percent of the Christian population during her August 19-26 stay in The Holy Land, organizers of the first international Maranatha pilgrimage are estimating.
“I am completely satisfied with the response. Having Vicka with us here fulfills my dream. Today, Medjugorje is present in every Christian family and community in The Holy Land. People are asking questions about how to connect to the Maranatha Movement for the healing of humanity. I do not have words to describe my feelings” Maranatha world coordinator Sabrina Covic-Radojicic tells the Croatian daily Vecernji List.
Vicka kissing a child before her apparition in Bethlehem. Photo: Jeries Photography / Facebook
Vicka returned to Medjugorje on Monday, also very much pleased with the events of the week.
“I am overjoyed. I have been in the Holy Land before, but I never could bring Our Lady’s message. I do not know why I could not, only God knows. Obviously it was time for people to hear. But, behold, the time has come. People have heard and will hear the message. But this should not stop here, prayer for the healing of people should continue. More than ever, humanity needs prayer” Vicka tells the Croatian paper.
Procession before Vicka’s apparition in Maelia on August 21
And devotion to prayer will continue, says Fr. Nadeem Shakouri, the pastor of Maelia where Vicka’s apparition was attended by about 13,000 people on August 21.
“I am delighted. Only the Lord could muster this crowd. I thank Him for the gift of Vicka’s arrival. It gives us hope that peace is possible in these regions. He asks us to continue to pray not only during Vicka’s stay in the Holy Land, but also after her departure. Pray for all the sick hearts awaiting recovery, and for all who witnessed these precious days and who will themselves become carriers of the messages” Fr. Shakouri tells Vecernji List.
Vicka addressing the crowd in Bethlehem on August 25. Photo: Jeries Photography / Facebook
The priest was further uplifted by the message the Virgin Mary passed on from the apparition in Maelia.
“Our Lady’s message today encourages us because she told the faithful of the Holy Land that she has been with us all the time with her Son, and that they never left. We believers from Galilee will never forget these days. In her honor we bless the statue which we brought from Medjugorje one month ago, that we will be constantly reminded of this day” says Fr. Shakouri.
With Fouad Boutros Ibrahim Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem far right, Vicka’s visit united the highest ranking clerics in The Holy Land. Photo: Jozo Ivankovic / Facebook
On August 24, Fouad Boutros Ibrahim Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, ”expressed his fraternal hospitality” and thanked for the devotion to recollection and prayer, and for the joy offered to all who met Vicka whom he welcomed to The Holy Land, Vecernji List further reports.
Both he and Elias Shakouri, the Bishop of the Melkite Catholic Church, were invited by Maranatha organizers to participate in the international Youth Festival in Medjugorje next year, Maranatha world coordinator Sabrina Covic-Radojicic informs.
source http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/
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WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN THROUGH GOOD PEOPLE?
"Herodias harbored a grudge against him for this and wanted to kill him." -Mark 6:19
Possibly the only one at Herod's birthday who wanted John beheaded was Herodias. Herod didn't want to kill John (Mk 6:20), and Herodias' daughter didn't think to ask for John's head until her mother put her up to it (Mk 6:24). Moreover, most of the people at Herod's birthday party may have thought it wrong to behead John. Even people with warped consciences can see the evil in the act of putting a freshly cut human head on a platter and parading it around a cocktail party.
One person can get away with committing an atrocity which no one else accepts when everyone is paralyzed to do anything about it. Herod was paralyzed by pride. Herodias' daughter may have been trapped by confusion or fear. Herod's guests were paralyzed by their egos, fears, or political ambitions.
Babies in the womb are murdered. Neighborhoods become paranoid through violence. Refugees are left to starve. Thousands upon thousands of people are annihilated through war. Yet hardly anyone wants abortion, violence, starvation, or war. These things happen because a thousand paralyzed Herods and party guests won't stop one Herodias. Conversely, one free, bold John the Baptizer will ultimately stop thousands of Herodiases. The Lord commands us: "Stand up and tell them all that I command you" (Jer 1:17).
Father, make me fearless, resolute, pure, and free.
"May the Lord increase you and make you overflow with love for one another and for all, even as our love does for you." -1 Thes 3:12
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Our Lady's message given through Mirjana Soldo today, September 2, 2013:
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John Polce Concert
There will be a Special John Polce Concert Thursday evening, September 5th at Saint Charles Borromeo Church,178 Dexter Street
Providence, R.I.
John will be bringing Pastor Brian Weeks who has a beautiful prophetic gift of words of encouragement from the Lord to individual people present. The evening will begin at 6:45 PM with the Rosary and Mass will begin at 7:00 PM. Pastor Brian was a good friend of Fr. John Randall. He came with John Polce to St. Charles this past June and we are looking forward to his return this coming Thursday evening.
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PROCLAMATION FROM OUR POPE
PROCLAMATION FROM POPE FRANCIS
TO THIS END, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I HAVE DECIDED TO PROCLAIM FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH ON 7 SEPTEMBER
THE VIGIL OF THE BIRTH OF MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,
A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER FOR PEACE
IN SYRIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND I ALSO INVITE EACH PERSON, INCLUDING OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS, FOLLOWERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS AND ALL MEN OF GOOD WILL, TO PARTICIPATE, IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CAN, IN THIS INITIATIVE.
ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, IN SAINT PETER’S SQUARE, HERE, FROM 19:00 UNTIL 24:00, WE WILL GATHER IN PRAYER AND IN A SPIRIT OF PENANCE, INVOKING GOD’S GREAT GIFT OF PEACE UPON THE BELOVED NATION OF SYRIA AND UPON EACH SITUATION OF CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE AROUND THE WORLD. HUMANITY NEEDS TO SEE THESE GESTURES OF PEACE AND TO HEAR WORDS OF HOPE AND PEACE! I ASK ALL THE LOCAL CHURCHES, IN ADDITION TO FASTING, THAT THEY GATHER TO PRAY FOR THIS INTENTION.
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The Light of Jesus
Pope Francis holds an audience with students from Jesuit-run schools in Italy and Albania in Paul VI Hall June 7, 2013. Credit: Lauren Cater/CNA.
While the light of Jesus is powerful enough to cast out demons, it is a peaceful and humble light that helps us carry the cross in our lives, said Pope Francis in his Sept. 3 homily.
“Jesus doesn’t need an army to cast out the demons, he has no need of pride, no need of force, of arrogance,” the Pope said during daily Mass at the chapel of the Saint Martha House.
The pontiff has resumed celebrating daily Mass for Vatican staff and guests at his home today after a month’s break.
Around 50 people, usually employees from various Vatican departments, are invited to attend each day.
Pope Francis took his homily from the Gospel of Luke, which narrates how Jesus cast out demons.
The light of Jesus “saves us from darkness,” emphasized the Holy Father, and Christianity is “an identity of light, not of darkness.”
“This Light is not well-liked by the world,” he said. “Today one might think that there is the possibility of having the light with so many scientific things, and so many of the things of humanity.”
“You can know everything, you can have knowledge of all things…but the light of Jesus is something else,” the Pope explained.
He noted that “it is not a light of ignorance, it’s a light of wisdom and sagacity, but it is something other than the light of the world.”
“The light that the world offers us is an artificial light, strong, perhaps, but that of Jesus is stronger,” he remarked.
Rather than a strong but brief flash, he said, the “light of Jesus is a mild light, it is a quiet light, it is a light of peace, it’s like the light on Christmas night, without pretense.”
He added that “the light of Jesus does not put on a show, it is a light that comes into the heart” and “offers and gives peace.”
“However, it’s true that many times the devil comes dressed as an angel of light,” the Pope warned.
“He likes to imitate Jesus and do good, he speaks to us quietly, as he spoke to Jesus after the fast in the desert,” he explained.
The pontiff stressed that we should ask for the wisdom of discernment to distinguish when it is Jesus who gives us true light, and when it is the devil, disguised as an angel of light.
“How many believe they are living in the light and they are in darkness, but they don’t realize it?” he asked.
Pope Francis described the light of Jesus as “a humble light” and “not a light that imposes itself.”
“It’s a meek light, with the strength of meekness, it’s a light that speaks to the heart, and also a light that offers you the cross,” he remarked.
“If we, in our inner light are meek, if we hear the voice of Jesus in the heart and look at the cross without fear, that is the light of Jesus,” he said, contrasting this with the devil’s false light, which “makes you arrogant” and prideful, leading you “to look on others from on high, to despise others.”
We can distinguish between these two lights, the Pope said, by recognizing that “wherever Jesus is, there is always humility, meekness, love and the cross.”
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Nancy Latta Medjugorje
May 8, 2013
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